Abstract
The number of operational satellites and debris objects in the valuable geosynchronous ring has increased steadily over time such that active debris removal missions are necessary to ensure long-term stability. These objects are very large and tumbling, making any mission scenarios requiring physical contact very challenging. In the last 10 years, the concept of using an electrostatic tractor has been investigated extensively. With the electrostatic tractor concept, active charge emission is employed to simultaneously charge the tug or services vehicle, while aiming the charge exhaust onto the passive space debris object to charge it as well. The resulting electrostatic force has been explored to actuate this debris object to a disposal orbit or to detumble the object, all without physical contact. This paper provides a survey of the related research and reviews the charging concepts, the associated electrostatic force and torque modeling, and the feedback control developments, as well as the charge sensing research.
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