Abstract
Space debris is positioned as a fatal problem for current and future space missions. Many effective space debris removal methods have been proposed in the past decade, and several techniques have been either tested on the ground or in parabolic flight experiments. Nevertheless, no uncooperative debris has been removed from any orbit until this moment. Therefore, to expand this research field and progressing the development of space debris removal technologies, this paper reviews and compares the existing technologies with past, present, and future methods and missions. Moreover, since one of the critical problems when designing space debris removal solutions is how to transfer the energy between the chaser/de-orbiting kit and target during the first interaction, this paper proposes a novel classification approach, named ET-Class (Energy Transfer Class). This classification approach provides an energy-based perspective to the space debris phenomenon by classifying how existing methods dissipate or store energy during the first contact.
Highlights
As a result of the existence of humankind in space starting from the last century, the Earth orbits have a crucial space debris pollution problem caused by millions of space debris varying at different geometries and masses (Kessler and Cour-Palais, 1978; Klinkrad and Sdunnus, 1997; Tomizaki et al, 2021)
The study assists in understanding the SOTA in terms of existing debris removal technologies, their current state (TRL and missions), and on generating awareness on the importance of the first interaction between the chaser satellite and the debris, pointing out how different concepts handle this first interaction
This paper presented a novel energy-based classification approach for space debris removal concepts and missions, named ET-class
Summary
As a result of the existence of humankind in space starting from the last century, the Earth orbits have a crucial space debris pollution problem caused by millions of space debris varying at different geometries and masses (Kessler and Cour-Palais, 1978; Klinkrad and Sdunnus, 1997; Tomizaki et al, 2021). Throughout ADR (Active Space Debris Removal) missions, one should consider that it is possible to push away debris floating in space if a mismatch/misalignment problem occurs during the first interaction Answering the questions such as how the momentum energy flows between the chaser/de-orbiting kit and target satellites, how much energy needs to be dissipated, or how much energy needs to be stored during the first interaction is critical for the mission’s success. A novel space debris removal classification approach, named ETClass (Energy Transfer Class), is proposed to understand the space debris removal phenomenon in terms of the way the first interaction between the chaser (or the de-orbiting kit) and target occurs, which is of great importance to plan new missions.
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