Spacecraft disintegration during uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry

We have developed a software system, which is able to predict the motion an d destruction of space objects of arbitrary shape entering the Earth's atmo sphere. It was named SCARAB ('Spacecraft Atmospheric Re-entry and Aerotherm al Break-up'). The software uses a modular approach, combining flight dynam ics, aerodynamics, aerothermal and thermal analysis, as well as structural analysis. Each module uses engineering methods to keep the total computatio nal expenditure for the complete simulation within acceptable limits. Therm al and structural analysis provide criteria for the destruction of a traced object. If there are fragments left after a destruction event, each part c an be traced separately until all parts of the original spacecraft are dest royed or have reached ground. The software has been applied to several test cases with and without destru ction. Some results have been compared with in-flight measurements, other r esults were compared with other existing re-entry prediction tools. Additio nal applications to complicated satellites (ERS-1, ENVISAT) and other objec ts of general interest (ATV, small debris parts) are currently under way an d examplary results are presented in this paper. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.