Autonomous Active Space Debris-Removal System

Abstract

Space exploration has noted an exponential rise in the past two decades. The world has started probing the alternatives for efficient and resourceful sustenance along with utilization of advanced technology viz., satellites on earth. Space propulsion forms the core of space exploration. Of all the issues encountered, space debris has increasingly threatened a space exploration and propulsion. The efforts have resulted in the presence of disastrous space debris fragments orbiting the earth at speeds up to several kilometres per hour. Unsealed debris is universally projected as potential damage to the future missions with loss of resources, and mankind as a huge amount of money is invested into it. Appreciable work had been done in the past relating to active space debris removal technologies such as harpoon, net and drag sail. The primary emphasis is laid on confined removal. Recently, remove debris spacecraft was used for servicing and capturing cargo ships. Airbus designed and planned the debris-catching net experiment aboard the spacecraft. The spacecraft represents the largest payload deployed from the space station. However, the magnitude of the issue suggests that active space debris removal technologies, such as harpoons and nets, still would not be enough thus necessitating the need for better and operative space debris removal system techniques. Such techniques based on diverting the path of debris or the spacecraft to avert damage, have turned out minimal usage owing to limited predictions. Present work focuses on an active hybrid space debris removal system. The work is motivated by the need to have safer and efficient space missions. The specific objective of the work is to thoroughly analyse the existing and conventional debris removal techniques, their working, effectiveness, and limitations. Thus, a novel active space debris removal system is proposed. Second is to understand the role of key controlling parameters in coupled operation of debris capturing and removal. The system represents the utilization of the latest autonomous technology available with an adaptable structural design for operations under varying conditions. The design covers advantages of most of the existing technologies while removing the disadvantages. The system is likely to enhance the probability of effective space debris removal.