Korean Space Collision Environment Assessment Framework Based on 3D-Cell Model

Abstract Space situational awareness (SSA) requires purpose-matched models across spatial, temporal, and fidelity scales. Building on our previously reported three-dimensional (3D) cell formulation and implementation, this study establishes a reproducible, resolution-aware, catalog-conditioned framework for macroscopic assessment of the low Earth orbit (LEO) collision environment. The framework maps supplied catalog or scenario populations to time-averaged spatial density and target-specific impact metrics while retaining individual-object information. Using a 2025 Space-Track snapshot, we evaluate radial, declination, and right-ascension resolution sensitivity and computational performance for six targets, including two Korean space assets. Normalized expected impact counts range from 0.615 to 1.599 and vary nonmonotonically; for a synthetic 500-km circular target, the result at a 0.25-km radial width is 38.5% below the 10-km reference. Runtime and memory show direction-dependent trade-offs. Ten annual snapshots show catalog growth from 15,723 objects in 2016 to 28,540 in 2025 and a 7.86-fold increase in the 500-km target metric, driven primarily by Starlink, other payloads, and unknown/TBA records. In a conditional stress test of the proposed 998,240-satellite SpaceX Orbital Data Center population, exact annual probabilities of at least one impact reach $$3.75\times 10^{-3}$$ 3.75 × 10 - 3 and $$1.48\times 10^{-3}$$ 1.48 × 10 - 3 for the 700-km and 1000-km targets. The framework provides a reproducible, resolution-aware basis for catalog-conditioned environment monitoring, comparative scenario assessment, and prioritization of cases for higher-fidelity follow-up analysis.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
Published
2026-10-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42405-026-01303-7
Primary Topic
Space Satellite Systems and Control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Korean Space Collision Environment Assessment Framework Based on 3D-Cell Model

Eun‐Jung Choi, Minchan Song, Hosik Kam, Jiwoong Yu et al.
International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
Space Satellite Systems and Control
article

Korean Space Collision Environment Assessment Framework Based on 3D-Cell Model

Eun‐Jung Choi, Minchan Song, Hosik Kam, Jiwoong Yu, Jung Hyun Jo, Jin Choi, Jaemyung Ahn, Jinsung Lee, Jaewoo Kim
article en

Abstract

Abstract Space situational awareness (SSA) requires purpose-matched models across spatial, temporal, and fidelity scales. Building on our previously reported three-dimensional (3D) cell formulation and implementation, this study establishes a reproducible, resolution-aware, catalog-conditioned framework for macroscopic assessment of the low Earth orbit (LEO) collision environment. The framework maps supplied catalog or scenario populations to time-averaged spatial density and target-specific impact metrics while retaining individual-object information. Using a 2025 Space-Track snapshot, we evaluate radial, declination, and right-ascension resolution sensitivity and computational performance for six targets, including two Korean space assets. Normalized expected impact counts range from 0.615 to 1.599 and vary nonmonotonically; for a synthetic 500-km circular target, the result at a 0.25-km radial width is 38.5% below the 10-km reference. Runtime and memory show direction-dependent trade-offs. Ten annual snapshots show catalog growth from 15,723 objects in 2016 to 28,540 in 2025 and a 7.86-fold increase in the 500-km target metric, driven primarily by Starlink, other payloads, and unknown/TBA records. In a conditional stress test of the proposed 998,240-satellite SpaceX Orbital Data Center population, exact annual probabilities of at least one impact reach $$3.75\times 10^{-3}$$ 3.75 × 10 - 3 and $$1.48\times 10^{-3}$$ 1.48 × 10 - 3 for the 700-km and 1000-km targets. The framework provides a reproducible, resolution-aware basis for catalog-conditioned environment monitoring, comparative scenario assessment, and prioritization of cases for higher-fidelity follow-up analysis.

International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
Openalex Percentile: Top 34%
Space Satellite Systems and Control
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Korean Space Collision Environment Assessment Framework Based on 3D-Cell Model — Eun‐Jung Choi, Minchan Song, et al. · International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS