Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

Navigating the Challenges of Orbital Debris: The Role of ORDEM

The NASA Johnson Space Center has developed the Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM), which stands at the forefront of orbital debris modeling tailored for engineering analysis. This advanced model leverages a vast array of radar, optical, in situ, and laboratory data, making it a significant tool in understanding and managing orbital debris.

Upon its release, ORDEM was groundbreaking for its incorporation of diverse material densities and population models for orbital debris, spanning from low Earth orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous orbit (GEO). It also integrated uncertainties across different debris populations, enhancing its precision.

One of the key functionalities of ORDEM is its ability to calculate the flux of orbital debris impacting any satellite in Earth’s orbit. This capability enables satellite engineers to design shielding and protective measures against potential debris strikes, ultimately prolonging the mission duration and the operational life of onboard instruments. The model includes simulation features for ground-based debris telescope and radar observations, assisting in the design of experiments aimed at assessing the meteoroid and orbital debris environment.

The hypervelocity protection sector heavily relies on ORDEM, as it provides essential data for designing and testing spacecraft shielding. The model’s accuracy allows engineers to optimize these protective measures by balancing mission objectives, risk levels, and financial factors.

As both governmental and private entities expand their activities in space for purposes such as security, scientific research, and commercial ventures, the need for robust debris risk assessment becomes increasingly vital. ORDEM serves as NASA’s primary instrument for evaluating and managing these risks, ensuring that space missions operate securely and effectively amidst growing orbital congestion.

Various U.S. government agencies, including NASA and the Department of Defense, utilize ORDEM directly or through associated tools like the Debris Assessment Software (MSC-26690-1). This software aids in assessing collision risks posed by larger trackable objects and addressing potential mission-ending hazards from smaller debris, including incidents such as tank ruptures or wiring damages. Beyond engineering applications, ORDEM is also employed in the conceptual design stages of missions to estimate impacts from debris on potential in situ sensors, particularly those aimed at detecting smaller debris not visible from the ground.

Commercial and academic institutions, such as Boeing, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, the University of Colorado, and California Polytechnic State University, also extensively use ORDEM. Their focus aligns with that of government users: identifying risks to spacecraft from the debris field and conducting research to comprehend how the debris environment evolves over time, with an aim to mitigate its growth.

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) boasts unparalleled data quality and breadth, allowing a comprehensive creation, verification, and validation process for the ORDEM model. In fact, numerous models developed by other research and engineering groups are based on those initially established by the ODPO for ORDEM.

ORDEM Team

Alyssa Manis
Andrew B. Vavrin
Brent A. Buckalew
Christopher L. Ostrom
Heather Cowardin
Jer-chyi Liou
John H. Seago
John Nicolaus Opiela
Mark J. Matney, Ph.D.
Matthew Horstman
Phillip D. Anz-Meador, Ph.D.
Quanette Juarez
Paula H. Krisko, Ph.D.
Yu-Lin Xu, Ph.D.

Source
www.nasa.gov