Satellite Cluster Close Approaches Determination for Collision Avoidance

As the number of space objects in orbit about the Earth increases, it is extremely important to determine the close approaches between them. In this paper the close approaches is determined for the satellite cluster using a simulation tool STK for the following (i) satellites of interest within a cluster (ii) a satellites of interest in a cluster and the space objects as listed in the space catalog and the close approach reports are analyzed. The results have indicated that the details of intruder satellites and the duration of close approaches and their minimum separation distances or the relative distances.