• International Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2016

This paper briefly introduces efforts into space debris modeling towards a better understanding of space debris environment. Space debris modeling mainly consists of debris generation and orbit propagation. Debris generation can characterize and predict physical properties of fragments originating from explosions or collisions. Orbit propagation can characterize, track, and predict the behavior of individual or groups of space objects. Therefore, space debris modeling can build evolutionary models as essential tools to predict the stability of the future space debris populations. Space debris modeling is also useful and effective to improve the efficiency of measurements to be aware of the present environment.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.239-258
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• 2011

Space debris mitigation has become an international custom for international space activities. IADC and COPUOS adopted a Guideline on Space Debris Mitigation. Two Guidelines provided that member states or international organization shall establish a national mechanism to mitigate space debris. China has made progress in legislation on space debris mitigation and management system. It establised a fundamental framework on the legislative mechanism on space debris mitigation and managemental mechanism on space debris mitigation. In order to further improve the national mechanism on space debris mitigation, it is essential for China to strenghen legislation on space activities and specify the duties of management administrates.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.845-857
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• 2015

Recently, deterioration of space environment due to space debris is getting a lot of international attention and advanced countries in space technology are willing to comply with their space debris mitigation guidelines. With these efforts to reduce the number of space debris, active space debris removal technology means to try and to get rid of space debris directly. In this paper, the background and recent status on active space debris removal technologies of overseas agencies are presented. Also, cases of technology development and patents are introduced. Thus, this paper can be usefully referred to by the colleagues who are willing to start the research and development of active space debris removal technologies.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.205-237
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• 2014

Last 50 years there were a lot of space subjects launched by space activities of many states and these activities also had created tremendous, significant space debris contaminating the environment of outer space. The large number of space debris which are surrounding the earth have the serious possibilities of destroying a satellite or causing huge threat to the space vehicles. For example, Chinese anti-satellite missile test was conducted by China on January 11, 2007. As a consequence a Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a kinetic kill vehicle traveling with a speed of 8 km/s in the opposite direction. Anti-satellite missile tests like this,contribute to the formation of enormous orbital space debris which can remain in orbit for many years and could interfere with future space activity (Kessler Syndrome). The test is the largest recorded creation of space debris in history with at least 2,317 pieces of trackable size (golf ball size and larger) and an estimated 150,000 debris particles and more. Several nations responded negatively to the test and highlighted the serious consequences of engaging in the militarization of space. The timing and occasion aroused the suspicion of its demonstration of anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities following the Chinese test of an ASAT system in 2007 destroying a satellite but creating significant space debris. Therefore this breakup seemed to serve as a momentum of the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the background of the EU initiatives for the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. The UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines thus adopted contain many technical elements that all the States involved in the outer space activities are expected to observe to produce least space debris from the moment of design of their launchers and satellites until the end of satellite life. Although the norms are on the voluntary basis which is normal in the current international space law environment where any attempt to formulate binding international rules has to face opposition and sometimes unnecessary screening from many corners of numerous countries. Nevertheless, because of common concerns of space-faring countries, the Guidelines could be adopted smoothly and are believed faithfully followed by most countries. It is a rare success story of international cooperation in the area of outer space. The EU has proposed an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities as a transparency and confidence-building measure. It is designed to enhance the safety, security and sustainability of activities in outer space. The purpose of the Code to reduce the space debris, to allow exchange of the information on the space activities, and to protect the space objects through safety and security. Of the space issues, the space debris reduction and the space traffic management require some urgent attention. But the current legal instruments of the outer space do not have any binding rules to be applied thereto despite the incresing activities on the outer space. We need to start somewhere sometime soon before it's too late with the chaotic situation. In this article, with a view point of this problem, focused on the the Chinese test of an ASAT system in 2007 destroying a satellite but creating significant space debris and tried to analyse the issues of space debris reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.435-444
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• 2022

This study conducts capture simulations of space debris using a space-net. The present capture simulations are performed using ABAQUS, a nonlinear structural dynamics analysis code. A square space-net with 1 m × 1 m and a space debris with a cube configuration(0.3 m × 0.3 m × 0.3 m and 30 kg) are considered as baseline models. Using the baseline models, the capture simulation using ABAQUS is conducted to understand the capture process and establish the criteria of capture success or fail. In addition, the capture simulations are performed when various properties of the space-net are considered, and it is investigated that major design factors of the space-net are recognized to capture successfully the space debris.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-290
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• 2013

Due to the continuous space development by mankind, the number of space objects including space debris in orbits around the Earth has increased, and accordingly, difficulties of space development and activities are expected in the near future. In this study, among the stages for space debris removal, the implementation of a vision-based approach technique for approaching space debris from a far-range rendezvous state to a proximity state, and the ground test performance results were described. For the vision-based object tracking, the CAM-shift algorithm with high speed and strong performance, and the Kalman filter were combined and utilized. For measuring the distance to a tracking object, a stereo camera was used. For the construction of a low-cost space environment simulation test bed, a sun simulator was used, and in the case of the platform for approaching, a two-dimensional mobile robot was used. The tracking status was examined while changing the position of the sun simulator, and the results indicated that the CAM-shift showed a tracking rate of about 87% and the relative distance could be measured down to 0.9 m. In addition, considerations for future space environment simulation tests were proposed.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2007

Space environment becomes more hazardous for satellite because of increasing number of space debris. This research is to analyze collision hazards between KOMPSAT 3 in low-earth orbit and space debris generated by the explosion of FengYun satellite on the January 11, 2007. Based on the observed data of the space debris from FengYun satellite, the mass and number distribution of the debris are estimated including undetectable debris from the explosion of FengYun satellite. The spatial density and flux for the space debris can be calculated according to size. This study also brings out the analysis for the assessment of collision probability and damage probability. The algorithm developed in the current paper can be used to estimate the level of risk due to space debris for the satellites that will be launched in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1144-1151
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• 2010

The increasing number of orbital debris objects is a risk for satellites because of past 50 years space activities. The LEO (low earth orbit) where KOMPSAT-2 and KOMPSAT-5 are operated is including about 84% of the total space debris. Thus, the space missions need to consider the space debris. In this paper, we analysis the orbit characteristics and spatial density of space debris about KOMPSAT-2 that is in activity and KOMPSAT-5 that will be launched in 2010. Analyzed probability damage and collision with space debris are also performed. ESA MASTER2005 and of NASA DAS2.0 are used to analysis KOMPSAT mission environment. As a result, it is noted that KOMPSAT-2's collision probability was far more than KOMPSAT-5 because KOMPSAT-2's orbit has high density composed space debris.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.205-236
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• 2010

This article deals with international space law for the environmental protection in outer space especially for space debris arising from space activities. After studying 1967 Outer Space Treaty, 1968 Rescue Agreement, 1972 Liability Convention, 1975 Registration Convention and 1979 Moon Agreement, we could find few provisions dealing with space environment in those treaties. During the earlier stages of the space age, which began in the late 1950s, the focus of international law makers was the establishment of the basic rules of space law governing the states' activities in outer space. Consequently the environmental issues and the risks that might arise from the generation of the space debris did not receive priority attention within the context of the development international space law. Although the phrases such as 'harmful contamination', 'harmful interference', 'disruption of the environment', 'adverse changes in the environment' and 'harmfully affecting' in relation to space environment were used in 1967 Outer Space Treaty and 1979 Moon Agreement, their true meaning was not definitely settled. Although 1972 Liability Convention deals with compensation, whether the space object covers space debris is unclear despite the case of Cosmos 954. In this respect international lawyers suggest the amendment of the space treaties and new space treaty covering the space environmental problems including the space debris. The resolutions, guidelines and draft convention are also studied to deal with space environment and space debris. In 1992 the General Assembly of the United Nations passed resolution 47/68 titled "Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space" for the NPS use in outer space. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee; IADC) issued some guidelines for the space debris which were the basis of "the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines" approved by COPUOS in its 527th meeting. In 1994 the 66th conference of ILA adopted "International Instrument on the Protection of the Environment from Damage Caused by Space Debris". Although those resolutions, guidelines and draft convention are not binding states, there are some provisions which have a fundamentally norm-creating character and softs laws.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2012

Space debris is the collection of objects in orbit around the Earth that were created by humans but no longer serve any useful purpose. Since the beginning of spacecraft launch in 1957, the number of space debris has been increasing. According to USSTRATCOM, the number of space debris which were bigger than 10 cm is more than 15,000. Recently there were two critical events: One is that China shot down their satellite using missile and the other is that two satellite, United States's Iridium 33 and Russia's Cosmos 2251, collided with each other. Thanks to these events, Space environment in which KOMPSAT-2 operates has become severer. This paper presents the analysis of the number of space debris which are close to KOMPSAT-2 and the maximum conjunction probability via minimum range. Especially, this paper makes it possible to continuously monitor the space debris that is possible to hit KOMPSAT-2 through the identification and analysis.