Safety Design for Space Operations

Chapter 10

Air-Space Traffic Interface Management

Erik Larson

Chapter Outline

10.1 Computing Risk to Aircraft

10.2 Aircraft Vulnerability

10.3 Typical Aircraft Risk Mitigation Approach

10.4 Alternative Approaches

10.5 Real-Time Management

10.6 Summary

Hazards to aircraft are a particular concern for the design of safe space vehicle operations. First, many space missions are often planned to fly over the ocean to avoid populated areas, but aircraft may still be present – and aircraft typically have significantly more people on board than trans-oceanic ships. Second, aircraft are more vulnerable to space vehicle debris impacts than other assets, because (1) aircraft are moving very fast so any collisions with the debris have relatively high kinetic ...