Introducing MISS, a new tool for collision avoidance analysis and design

The core aspects and latest developments of Manoeuvre Intelligence for Space Safety (MISS), a new software tool for the analysis and design of collision avoidance manoeuvres involving a spacecraft and a space debris, are presented. The tool leverages analytical and semi-analytical methods for the efficient modelling of the orbit modifications due to different control strategies, such as impulsive or low-thrust manoeuvres, and maps them into displacements at the nominal close approach using relative motion equations. B-plane representations are then used to separate the phasing-related and geometry-related components of the displacement. Both maximum miss distance and minimum collision probability collision avoidance manoeuvres are considered. The tool also allows for the computation of state transition matrices and propagation of uncertainties. Several test cases are provided to assess the capabilities and performance of the tool.