Resonance influence on orbital dynamics of space debris in LEO

Abstract

This study examines the effects of resonance on the orbital elements of space debris whose mean motion is commensurable with Earth’s rotation. By applying a suitable sequence of canonical transformations, the system of differential equations describing the orbital motion is reduced to an integrable kernel. Focusing on a specific resonant angle, numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the variations in the orbital elements of space debris orbiting near the 15 : 1 resonance, specifically in LEO orbit at altitudes ranging from 559 km to 563 km. The study reveals that the motion in the vicinity of the exact resonance region is highly sensitive to minor perturbations and that the resonance effect occurred primarily in near-circular orbits and at high inclinations where the effect of the Earth non-sphericity ( J 2 ) has low influence This sensitivity suggests that these regions may exhibit chaotic behavior or lead to collision-prone orbits considering different initial conditions.