After the accident of the STS 107 Columbia Space Shuttle, great concern has been focused on the risk associated to the population on the ground. Before this accident happened, re-entry routes as well as risk calculation of were not of public concern. Two issues that have been raised from this lamentable accident relate to spacecraft security and to public safety. The integration of a debris model has been part of the original conceptual architecture of the Virtual Range Project. Its integration has been considered as a specific research due to the complexity of the models and the difficulties to obtain them since the commercial off-the-shelf available software seems to be less accessible. This research provides solid information concerning what debris fragmentation models are, their fundamentals, their weaknesses and strengths. The research provides information of the main debris models being currently used by NASA which have direct relationship with the space programs conducted. This study also addresses the integration of a debris model into the Virtual Range Project. We created a provisional model based on the distribution of the Columbia debris fragments over Texas and part of Louisiana in order to create an analytical methodology as well. This analysis shows a way of integrating this debris model with a Geographic Information System as well as the integration of several raster and vector data sets which will provide the source data to compute the calculations. This research uses population data sets that allow the determination of the number of people at risk on the ground. The graphical and numerical analysis made can lead to the determination of new and more secure re-entry trajectories as well as further population-related security issues concerning this type of flights.

Orbital debris is a current and growing threat to reliable space operations and new space vehicle traffic. As space traffic increases, so does the economic impact of orbital debris on the sustainability of systems that increasingly support national security and international commerce. Much of the debris collision risk is concentrated in specific high-density debris clusters in key regions of Low Earth Orbit (LEO). A potential long-term solution is to employ a constellation of observation satellites within these debris clusters to improve monitoring and characterization efforts, and engage in Laser Debris Removal (LDR) as means of collision mitigation. Here we adapted and improved a previous methodology for evaluating such designs. Further, we performed an analysis on the observer constellations' effectiveness over a range of circular, elliptical, and self-maneuvering designs. Our results show that increasingly complex designs result in improved performance of various criteria and that the proposed method of observation could significantly reduce the threat orbital debris poses to space operations and economic growth. / Master of Science / Orbital debris is defined as all non-operational, man-made objects currently in space. US national space regulations require every new satellite to have a de-orbit plan to prevent the creation of new debris, but fails to address the thousands of derelict objects currently hindering space operations. As space traffic increases, so does the economic impact of orbital debris on the sustainability of systems that increasingly support national security and commercial growth. While orbital debris is usually assessed by looking at the full volume of space, most massive debris objects are concentrated in high-density clusters with a higher than normal probability for collision. A potential solution to the growing orbital debris problem is to place a group of observation satellites within these debris clusters to both improve monitoring capabilities and provide a means for preventing potential collisions by engaging with debris via Laser Debris Removal (LDR). This research presents a methodology for comparing and contrasting different observer satellite constellation designs. Our results show that increasingly complex orbit designs improve various performance criteria, but ultimately orbits that more closely match those of the debris objects provide the best coverage. The proposed method of observation and engagement could significantly reduce the threat orbital debris poses to space operations and economic growth.

No description available.

No description available.

A systematic examination of 1836 images of the sky constructed from scans made by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite has resulted in the detection of 466 objects which are shown to be in Earth orbit. Analysis of the spatial and size distribution and thermal properties of these objects, which may include payloads, rocket bodies and debris particles, is being conducted as one step in a feasibility study for space -based debris detection technologies.

Fire is the most significant natural disturbance agent in the MSdm biogeoclimatic subzone and has a determinant role in the dynamics of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia Engelm.ex S.Wats.) dominated forests. Fire severity is a controversial term that usually refers to a qualitative measure of the fire effects on soil and vegetation and ultimately on ecosystem sustainability. The main objective of the thesis was to evaluate methods for quantifying and modelling the effects of fire severity on live biomass and dead organic matter and post-fire coarse woody debris (CWD) dynamics. A review of the representation of fire in models was conducted and several of the most commonly used fire models in North America have been described in terms of fire severity representation. The potential for developing the fire severity concept as a fire effects descriptor in an ecosystem management model were assessed. Severity matrices summarizing the probabilities of occurrence for fires of varying severity were constructed for two sites in the MSdm biogeoclimatic subzone of British Columbia, using weather data and past fire records. These matrices provide information to improve fire representation in the ecosystem based model FORECAST by quantifying the effects of fire severity on dead and live biomass components. Although this represents only a preliminary step, the severity matrix approach appears toprovide a viable methodology for improving the representation of fire effects in FORECAST. Patterns of post-fire coarse woody debris (CWD) accumulation were also assessed in the context of model development. Data were collected from a chronosequence of fire affected sites in the MSdm subzone of the TFL 49 Kelowna. The ability of the FORECAST model to simulate accumulation patterns in CWD and soil organic matter and nitrogen following fire was tested by comparing model outputs with field data. The evaluation of the model against chronosequence-derived data highlighted the fact that caution needs to be taken when using such data for model testing. The very slow recruitment pattern for new CWD illustrates the need to retain sources of CWD recruitment following fire by not salvage logging all killed trees and/or surviving live trees.

A 3-D seismic volume, wireline logs and core data were integrated to determine the spatial distribution of porous reservoirs within the Wolfcampian-Leonardian detrital carbonate slope and basin strata in Glasscock County, Texas. A 3-D seismic amplitude volume was used to construct a seismic facies analysis of the detrital carbonate section, and generated attribute volumes helped identify detrital carbonate depositional trends, as well as establish a potential correlation between thick detrital carbonate intervals and associated amplitude response. Eight lithofacies were identified in core and were subsequently classified into three main facies: debris flow, grain flow/turbidite, and basinal shale. A facies type log was then created, which was used to supervise the creation of facies logs within other wells to ultimately use in the creation of a 3-D facies model. Cross sections through the study area show an increase in bathymetric relief beginning in Wolfcampian time and continuing through the Leonardian. Detrital carbonate deposition increases dramatically during the Leonardian, consisting of large gravity flows deposited basinward in a northwest-southeast linear trend, rapidly thinning basinward. Individual flows are discontinuous and bounded by basinal shale facies. Four seismic facies were identified within the interval of interest using a structurally smoothed attribute volume, while an RMS amplitude attribute volume provided a correlation between high RMS amplitude values and detrital carbonate thickness. A high RMS amplitude value corresponding to the debris flow facies was extracted from the RMS attribute volume in the form of a seismic geobody. Two facies models and one porosity model were generated by using upscaled values from the gamma ray, total porosity, and lithofacies logs, which were applied over areas with the densest well control. Although the facies model populated from upscaled GR values was useful in stratigraphic interpretation, it is determined that the models should be applied over areas with denser well spacing in order to provide a more accurate and geologically viable subsurface model.

Fire is the most significant natural disturbance agent in the MSdm biogeoclimatic subzone and has a determinant role in the dynamics of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia Engelm.ex S.Wats.) dominated forests. Fire severity is a controversial term that usually refers to a qualitative measure of the fire effects on soil and vegetation and ultimately on ecosystem sustainability. The main objective of the thesis was to evaluate methods for quantifying and modelling the effects of fire severity on live biomass and dead organic matter and post-fire coarse woody debris (CWD) dynamics. A review of the representation of fire in models was conducted and several of the most commonly used fire models in North America have been described in terms of fire severity representation. The potential for developing the fire severity concept as a fire effects descriptor in an ecosystem management model were assessed. Severity matrices summarizing the probabilities of occurrence for fires of varying severity were constructed for two sites in the MSdm biogeoclimatic subzone of British Columbia, using weather data and past fire records. These matrices provide information to improve fire representation in the ecosystem based model FORECAST by quantifying the effects of fire severity on dead and live biomass components. Although this represents only a preliminary step, the severity matrix approach appears toprovide a viable methodology for improving the representation of fire effects in FORECAST. Patterns of post-fire coarse woody debris (CWD) accumulation were also assessed in the context of model development. Data were collected from a chronosequence of fire affected sites in the MSdm subzone of the TFL 49 Kelowna. The ability of the FORECAST model to simulate accumulation patterns in CWD and soil organic matter and nitrogen following fire was tested by comparing model outputs with field data. The evaluation of the model against chronosequence-derived data highlighted the fact that caution needs to be taken when using such data for model testing. The very slow recruitment pattern for new CWD illustrates the need to retain sources of CWD recruitment following fire by not salvage logging all killed trees and/or surviving live trees.

Techn. Univ., Diss.--Braunschweig, 2003.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 200 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.