6. A Prediction of Aerodynamics of Arbitrary Shape Non-fragmenting Space Debris During Decay Without Ablation

Along with many technological and economic benefits brought by the space exploration to the humankind, there were damaging impacts of these achievements to the space environment. As a result of the activities in space, an enormous amount of uncontrolled space objects have been left in Earth’s orbit which poses a serious endangerment to the sustainability of outer space. The objective of this research was to develop an engineering method to predict an aerodynamics of arbitrary shape non-fragmenting space debris without ablation. Using a complex variable method (“linearization of single-bonded area”), a universal formula for velocity of arbitrary shape fragments was derived. This technique allows describing the space fragments (debris) of various shapes, sizes, and masses.