Dynamic Collision Parameters in Low-Earth-Orbit Space Environment Models

MOCAT-SSEM is an open-source source–sink evolutionary population model that predicts the low-Earth-orbit (LEO) space population. It divides resident space objects into families using a predefined set of parameters that determine change in population. However, these parameters are highly sensitive to initial conditions, and the SSEM estimate quickly diverges from higher-fidelity, but computationally expensive, Monte Carlo (MOCAT–MC) estimates. By treating these parameters as stochastic variables,