Design Optimization of a Low SWaP Space Debris Satellite Constellation

As mankind makes more frequent ventures into space, there exist an endless slew of obstacles with the potential to jeopardize both the safety and success of critical missions. Space is a harsh environment, and the space just above earth’s orbit is a particularly cruel and challenging place to survive. Among the growing threats to mankind's burgeoning space industry is the risk of hazardous space debris. For the purposes of this report space debris is defined as bits and pieces of loose material, sometimes even the remnants of previous missions, which linger around earth's orbit. At high velocities, even the smallest of particles have the capacity to destroy multi-million dollar space systems should they collide. As such, actively identifying and tracking these hazardous pieces of debris can provide a tremendous benefit in reducing the chances of devastating collisions. In this vein, the Multidisciplinary Optimization of Orion (MOO) Team has devised an effective solution to help combat this growing stellar threat: the Orion Satellite Constellation.