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DEBris In Orbit Evaluator - 2 (DEBIE-2)
05.15.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

The Debris in Orbit Evaluator - 2 (DEBIE-2) is used to determine the fluxes and parameters of space debris and micrometeoroids in situ by their impacts with a detecting surface. DEBIE-2 will be able to detect particles of micron size or larger. Knowledge of impacts, their seasonal variations and long-term evolution is required for a reliable spacecraft risk assessment and the design of protective shielding.

Principal Investigator

  • Gerhard Drolshagen, Ph.D., European Space Research and Technology Research Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Alessandra Menicucci, Ph.D., European Space Research and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    • Payload Developer

    Patria Advanced Solutions Oy, Tampere, Finland

    Sponsoring Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |16|17|18|19|20|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The potential risk of spacecraft colliding with space debris increases steadily. About 4000 launches in 50 years have produced more than 25,000 observable space objects, which are larger than 10 cm in diameter. About 15,000 of these are still in orbit. The number of smaller particles is much higher. These small particulates can only be measured by the analysis of retrieved hardware or by in-situ detectors.


    • The Debris in Orbit Evaluator - 2 (DEBIE-2) will determine the populations and parameters of space debris and micrometeoroids in situ by their impacts with a detecting surface.


    • The micrometeoroid and space debris population in near Earth space has large uncertainties and space debris fluxes of millimeter or smaller sizes are highly variable and largely unknown. Knowledge on impacting fluxes, their seasonal variations and their long term evolution is required for a reliable spacecraft risk assessment and the design of protective shielding.

    Description

    DEBIE-1 (first flight model) flew on PROBA, which is a technology demonstration small satellite, whose payload is dedicated partly to monitor the space environment. The launch was in the second quarter of 2001.

    DEBIE-2 is designed to be a standard space debris and micrometeoroid-monitoring instrument which requires low resources from the spacecraft. A significant benefit from a standard instrument will be that the scientific results from several DEBIE-2 instruments onboard different spacecraft can be easily compared and compiled to a single database. DEBIE-2 can have up to 4 separate sensor units (each with area of 10 cm x 10 cm) which can face in different directions.

    The DEBIE-2 flight model has 3 sensor units compared to 2 on DEBIE-1. Otherwise DEBIE-2 is essentially similar to DEBIE-1 with some improvements in the flight hardware and software.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • European Detector Impact Database
  • Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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      Images

      imageFlight model of DEBIE-2 instrument: Data Processing Unit and three Sensor Units. Image courtesy of ESA.
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      imageNASA Images s124e010226 (background) and s123e009654 (foreground): This image shows the location along with a close up view of the European Space Agency?s European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) platform located externally on the Columbus module. EuTEF houses nine experiments including Debris in Orbit Evaluator - 2 (DEBIE-2).
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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