Parameters Evolution in Source-Sink Space Population Evolutionary Models

Abstract

MOCAT-SSEM is a Source-Sink model that predicts the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space population divided into families using a predefined set of interaction parameters. Thanks to data from the Monte Carlo version of the model (MOCAT-MC), which propagates singularly every object, it is possible to estimate such parameters, assumed as additional stochastic variables. Thus, this paper proposed a new set of parameters so that the new Source-Sink model prediction better fits the computationally expensive and accurate MOCAT-MC simulation. Estimation is performed by extracting stochastic quantities from the space population, which has been analyzed to fit common probability density functions.