The effects of meteoroid stream enhanced activity on human space flight: an overview

The origin, dispersion mechanisms and evolution of particle streams produci ng enhanced activity (outburst or storm) of meteoroids are discussed in rel ation to their effects on artificial satellites and space platforms. A revi ew of the active meteoroids suggests that at least five streams may undergo outburst or storm activity in the next few years. Modern radio techniques not affected by illumination conditions and cloud coverage, improve signifi cantly the detectability of meteor streams. The impact probabilities of sto rm meteoroids on space platforms in Earth orbit can increase by factors in excess of 10(2)-10(4) over the sporadic background. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.