Assessment perspectives for the orbital utilization of space debris

Abstract

Technogenic pollution of the near-Earth space by fragments of space debris of various sizes significantly limits the possibilities for implementing space activities and represents a great danger to objects on Earth. Low orbits with heights up to 2000 km are particularly heavily clogged. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee recommends removing fragments of space debris from the area of working orbits. Currently, promising ways of space debris removing are considered: descent into the Earth’s atmosphere, relocation to an orbit with a lifetime less than twenty-five years, relocation to an utilization orbit, and orbital disposal. Orbital utilization considers space debris as a resource for the industry in orbit. The objectives of the article are to assess the perspectives for the orbital utilization of space debris and to develop a method for choosing the number and placement of safe recycling orbits in the area of low near-Earth orbits. The paper analyses the prospects for the use of orbital utilization of space debris and the assessment of the possibilities of using orbital storage and subsequent reuse of dismantled space objects, instruments and materials. A number of problems of planning and organizing the orbital utilization of space debris are formulated and solved. A method for determining safe orbits of space debris utilization in the area of low near-Earth orbits based on a criteria system developed. Using the developed method and software package, the possible orbits of space debris utilization in the area of low near-Earth orbits are determined. The lifetime of a space object in the utilization orbit, the stability of the orbit of the utilization at a long time interval, and the energy consumptions for transferring the space object from the working orbit to the utilization orbit are estimated. The novelty of the obtained results consists in the development of a clustering technique for the orbits of utilized space debris objects and the development of a technique for selecting a possible orbit for the utilization of space debris in the area of low near-Earth orbits. The results obtained can be used in the planning and organization of the orbital utilization of space debris.