Satellite Solar Power Debris risk

From: Alex Terrell (alexterrell_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/10/04 

Date: 10 Nov 2004 02:02:06 -0800

One of the other posts got me thinking.

Imagine (in 2100-2200) SSP providing 100 TW of power to Earth. Let's
say this is made up of 1,000 satellites, each of 1,000km2 (say 32 by
32 km), orbiting in Geostationary Earth orbit. The distance between
each satellite is about 250km. It would look nice from Earth.

What is the level of threat from debris? If a satellite got hit, would
it create more debris which would hit other satellites, until
eventually the whole orbit became unusable? Or would any debris
eventually be forced into the same geostationary orbit.

What safety measures would need to be taken?

I would suggest:

- All construction out of non-brittle material, so high speed debris
makes holes, but doesn't shatter anything.
- Security, rules and traffic control to stop anyone putting an object
into a dangerous orbit (like a retrograde GEO).
- Debris clean up program. How would this work? Could lasers be used
to vaporise small objects?
- Collision object capture. Same as above? Perhaps between the power
sats a movable catcher, that catches any object crossing the GEO
"ring". Objects will typically cross about 12 times before impacting.

Any others?

Relevant Pages

  • China test boosted space risk up to 40 pct: U.S. govt
    ... China test boosted space risk up to 40 pct: ... a piece of debris 1 cm or larger over a five-year period. ... "After the successful China ASAT test, the probability of a low-earth orbit ... obsolete weather satellite in polar orbit, ...
    (soc.culture.malaysia)
  • Re: Satellite Solar Power Debris risk
    ... orbiting in Geostationary Earth orbit. ... > each satellite is about 250km. ... > it create more debris which would hit other satellites, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: U.S. Plans to Shoot Down Broken Spy Satellite
    ... The current intention is to bust up the satellite during re-entry ... to make the debris smaller - not while it's in orbit. ... defense interceptor in the coming days is aimed at preventing toxic ...
    (misc.survivalism)
  • Re: U.S. Plans to Shoot Down Broken Spy Satellite
    ... Possibly because it wasn't the same thing - the ChiComs destroyed a satellite in orbit that created nearly 46% of the current hazardous orbital debris. ... The Chinese created a debris field that threatens all current a future satellites. ...
    (misc.survivalism)
  • Re: Satellite Solar Power Debris risk
    ... orbiting in Geostationary Earth orbit. ... > each satellite is about 250km. ... > it create more debris which would hit other satellites, ...
    (sci.space.policy)