Long-term dynamical evolution of high area-to-mass ratio debris released into high earth orbits

The long-term dynamical evolution of objects with extremely high area-to-mass ratios released in synchronous and semi-synchronous Earth orbits was simulated with a numerical propagator including all the relevant perturbations. In fact, as suggested by optical observations in the geosynchronous regime and orbital analysis of breakup fragments in low Earth orbit, artificial debris characterized by average area-to-mass ratios hundreds or thousands of times greater than those of intact satellites or rocket bodies might be produced much more frequently than previously supposed. The results obtained show that even objects with average area-to-mass ratios of tens of m(2)/kg may remain in space for several decades, or more, with very wide eccentricity excursions and orbit pole precessions, but maintaining a mean motion close to the original one, either synchronous or semi-synchronous. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.