Comparison of the ballistic parameter distribution of the Cosmos 2251 and Iridium 33 cataloged fragments

Pardini C, Liou J C, Sorge, M

Ballistic parameter distribution  Cosmos 2251  Iridium 33  Collision  Cataloged debris 

At the 28th IADC meeting in Trivandrum, India (9-12 March 2010), it was agreed to exchange information on the area-to-mass distribution of the Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 fragments. Three members of the IADC WG2 participated in the study: Liou, Jer-Chyi (NASA - NASA Delegation); Pardini, Carmen (ISTI/CNR - ASI Delegation); Sorge, Marlon (Aerospace Corporation - NASA Delegation). The ballistic parameter (B = CdA/M) distributions of the Cosmos 2251 and Iridium 33 cataloged fragments were compared, based on three independent approaches. The results obtained revealed a very good agreement.