Estimation of minimum required thrust for spacecraft collision avoidance / by Patrick Gavigan.: D68-6/113-2013E-PDF

The minimum thrust required for a spacecraft to perform a collision avoidance maneuver, subject to a three day warning, has been estimated. The method used is based on the concept of a proximity region violation, where a collision risk is based on whether a space object violates the proximity region of another object. As such, a collision avoidance maneuver, such that the spacecraft is outside of the proximity region at the Time of Closest Approach (TCA), was determined. Hill’s equations were used as part of an optimization algorithm in order to estimate the minimum thrust required for such a maneuver. This effort validates the concept that minimalistic thrusters with very small effective Δv could be used for performing collision avoidance with sufficient waning time.

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Publication information
Department/Agency Defence R&D Canada.
Title Estimation of minimum required thrust for spacecraft collision avoidance / by Patrick Gavigan.
Series title Technical Memorandum ; 2013-113
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) "November 2013."
Includes bibliographical references.
Publishing information [Ottawa] : Defence Research and Development Canada, c2013.
Author / Contributor Gavigan, P.
Description xii, 16 p. : tables, graphs.
Catalogue number
  • D68-6/113-2013E-PDF
Subject terms Technical reports
Conjunction warning
Collision avoidance
Propulsion systems
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