Space Dust and Debris

The papers presented in this publication can be divided into three sections. The section entitled Orbital Debris includes papers which develop techniques to define the environment through models which describe spacecraft traffic and fragment generation from explosions and random collisions; papers which test model predictions through measurements of the environment, the effect that the environment will have on spacecraft and scientific investigations; and techniques to either minimise the effect of the environment or minimise the environment. In Situ Measurement and Laboratory Analysis of Space Dust Particles presents data from NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) following its recovery by the space shuttle in January 1990. The importance of the LDEF data for an understanding of the particulate space environment is apparent from the preliminary analysis. Ideas on the interrelations between asteroids, comets and dust are changing rapidly. Observations from the spacecraft IRAS, VEGA, GIOTTO and groundbased telescopes have defined more clearly the nature of comets and asteroids.
 
The papers presented in this publication can be divided into three sections. The section entitled Orbital Debris includes papers which develop techniques to define the environment through models which describe spacecraft traffic and fragment generation from explosions and random collisions; papers which test model predictions through measurements of the environment, the effect that the environment will have on spacecraft and scientific investigations; and techniques to either minimise the effect of the environment or minimise the environment. In Situ Measurement and Laboratory Analysis of Space Dust Particles presents data from NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) following its recovery by the space shuttle in January 1990. The importance of the LDEF data for an understanding of the particulate space environment is apparent from the preliminary analysis. Ideas on the interrelations between asteroids, comets and dust are changing rapidly. Observations from the spacecraft IRAS, VEGA, GIOTTO and groundbased telescopes have defined more clearly the nature of comets and asteroids.