Doctoral Dissertations
Date of Award
12-2022
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Industrial Engineering
Major Professor
Dr. James Simonton
Committee Members
Dr. James Simonton, Dr. Andrew Yu, Dr. Janice Tolk, Dr. Mingzhou Jin, Dr. Trevor Moeller
Abstract
Since mankind launched the first satellite into orbit in 1957, we have been inadvertently, yet deliberately, creating an environment in space that may ultimately lead to the end of our space exploration. Space debris, more specifically, orbital debris is a growing problem that must be dealt with sooner, rather than later. Several ideas have been developed to address the complex problem of orbital debris mitigation.
This research will investigate the possibility of removing orbital debris from the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) regime by using a metaheuristic algorithm to maximize collection of debris resulting from the February 2009 on-orbit collision of Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251. This treatment will concentrate on the Iridium debris field for analysis. This research is necessary today, more than ever, as we embark on the launch of thousands of LEO spacecraft, which could result in the realization of the Kessler Syndrome, “The certain risk of failure on launch or during operations due to an on-orbit collision with debris” (Kessler & Cour-Palais, 1978).
Recommended Citation
Turk, Timothy S., "A NOVEL APPROACH TO ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2022.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7749
Included in
Industrial Engineering Commons, Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons