The analytic basis for debris avoidance operations for the International Space Station

A debris avoidance process based upon collision probability has been developed for the International Space Station (ISS) using covariance information supplied by the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM). Given the debris flux and the distribution of debris covariances for conjuncting debris, it is possible to estimate risk reduction, fractional residual risk and maneuver rate for the ISS as a function of chosen maneuver threshold collision probability.