Seminar: Space Debris Propagation, Prediction and Removal

Seminar will be simulcast to Scott Laboratory, room E525, 201 W 19th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210.

Abstract

Since the launch of the first satellite (Sputnik 1) in 1957, humans have created a lot of objects in orbit around Earth. The number of space objects larger than 10 cm is presently approaching 21,000; the estimated population of objects between 1 and 10cm is about 500, 000; and for objects smaller than 1cm the number exceeds 100 million. Both the number of space objects and the number of conflicts between these objects are increasing exponentially. This talk overviews the research to address the challenges posed by the growth of space debris. The Modified Chebyshev-Picard Iteration (MCPI) Methods will be introduced, which are a set of parallel-structured methods for solution of initial value problems and boundary value problems. The MCPI methods have been recommended as the “promising and parallelizable method for orbit propagation” by the National Research Council. The talk will then highlight recent results to develop a methodology to predict resident space objects' (RSO) trajectories with orders of magnitudes of higher accuracy than that of the current methods. Inspired by the learning theory, through which the models are learnt based on large amounts of data and the prediction can be conducted without explicitly modeling space objects and space environment, Bai's group is working on a new orbit prediction framework that integrates physics-based orbit prediction algorithms with a learning-based system identification process. Last, research will be presented on designing advanced methods for the trajectory planning of space robotics for space debris removal with the goal to solve the problem in real time.

About the speaker

Xiaoli Bai is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She obtained her PhD degree in aerospace engineering in 2010 from Texas A&M University. Her current research interests include astrodynamics and space situational awareness with a focus on the unstable and inactive space debris that are out of control and have uncertain origins; spacecraft guidance, control and space robotics; and unmanned aerial vehicle navigation and control. She was a recipient of the Outstanding Young Aerospace Engineer Award from Texas A&M University in 2018, the A. Water Tyson Assistant Professor Award from Rutgers in 2018 and the 2016 Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Research Program award.

Hosted by Professor Ran Dai.