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Autores principales: Shu, Peng, Zhao, Meng, Zhao, Yu-Yan, Yang, Zhen, Li, Yu-Qiang
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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Acceso en línea:https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.01878
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author Shu, Peng
Zhao, Meng
Zhao, Yu-Yan
Yang, Zhen
Li, Yu-Qiang
author_facet Shu, Peng
Zhao, Meng
Zhao, Yu-Yan
Yang, Zhen
Li, Yu-Qiang
contents The breakup of Intelsat 33E on 19 October 2024 posed a potential risk to satellites in the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). This study analyzes the evolution and distribution of these fragments using a probabilistic approach. The initial distribution of the fragments, derived from the NASA Standard Breakup Model, indicates the generation of 4,393 fragments larger than 1 centimeter. The spatial propagation of these fragments is modeled analytically in the Earth-Centered Earth-Fixed reference frame, showing the formation of high-density ring structures in the equatorial plane from 24 hours to 28 days after the breakup. The orbits of 36 cataloged fragments are retrieved and compared with the probability density. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulations validate the probabilistic model and highlight its efficiency in capturing low-probability events. Collision risks to other GEO satellites are assessed, showing that the top 10\% of satellites encounter a collision probability of up to $10^{-8}$ after 28 days. Satellites near the equatorial plane are at higher risk, whereas those with higher inclinations are less affected. These findings underscore the need for enhanced monitoring and mitigation strategies for GEO breakup events, given the challenges in detecting small fragments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2606_01878
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Distribution and Evolution of the Debris Cloud from the Fragmentation of Intelsat 33E
Shu, Peng
Zhao, Meng
Zhao, Yu-Yan
Yang, Zhen
Li, Yu-Qiang
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
The breakup of Intelsat 33E on 19 October 2024 posed a potential risk to satellites in the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). This study analyzes the evolution and distribution of these fragments using a probabilistic approach. The initial distribution of the fragments, derived from the NASA Standard Breakup Model, indicates the generation of 4,393 fragments larger than 1 centimeter. The spatial propagation of these fragments is modeled analytically in the Earth-Centered Earth-Fixed reference frame, showing the formation of high-density ring structures in the equatorial plane from 24 hours to 28 days after the breakup. The orbits of 36 cataloged fragments are retrieved and compared with the probability density. Furthermore, Monte Carlo simulations validate the probabilistic model and highlight its efficiency in capturing low-probability events. Collision risks to other GEO satellites are assessed, showing that the top 10\% of satellites encounter a collision probability of up to $10^{-8}$ after 28 days. Satellites near the equatorial plane are at higher risk, whereas those with higher inclinations are less affected. These findings underscore the need for enhanced monitoring and mitigation strategies for GEO breakup events, given the challenges in detecting small fragments.
title Distribution and Evolution of the Debris Cloud from the Fragmentation of Intelsat 33E
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.01878