Validity of the Poisson distribution for orbital debris impact problems

Timothy D. Maclay; Michael L. Fudge; Carl Harris

doi:10.1117/12.256054

31 October 1996 Validity of the Poisson distribution for orbital debris impact problems

Timothy D. Maclay, Michael L. Fudge, Carl Harris

Proceedings Volume 2813, Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.256054
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

There has been some recent concern in the orbital debris scientific community over whether the Poisson probability density function is valid for the present-day studies involving larger debris fluxes, longer duration missions, and larger cross sectional areas. This paper presents the mathematical definitions for Poisson and its more physically founded cousin, the binomial distribution, and discusses the relationship between them. The debris impact problem is then formulated using both distributions, and a quantitative comparison is presented along with several examples. It is concluded that although the orbital debris collision problem is inherently binomial, one often does not have the necessary knowledge to accurately formulate the binomial expression. Furthermore, Poisson provides probability estimates that, for a wide range of studies, approximates those of the binomial very well.

Citation Download Citation

Timothy D. Maclay, Michael L. Fudge, and Carl Harris "Validity of the Poisson distribution for orbital debris impact problems", Proc. SPIE 2813, Characteristics and Consequences of Orbital Debris and Natural Space Impactors, (31 October 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.256054

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