Space debris removal. Active & passive systems
Space debris removal. Active & passive systems
Space debris removal. Active & passive systems
The space debris problem emerged in the second half of the 20th century with the launch of first artificial Earth satellites. Left at earth orbits, space objects began to pose a threat to functioning spacecraft and, in particular, to stations with crews on board.
With the expansion of space exploration the population of space debris began to grow rapidly. It required appropriate measures to be taken. In 1993, a number of space agencies created the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The primary purposes of this organization are to exchange information between committee members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation, and to identify debris mitigation options. This committee has developed the “IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines”.
Ukraine has also developed and adopted an appropriate document “Limitation of Near-Earth Orbital Debris Making at Operation of Space Technical Equipment” from July 19th, 2006 which dictates fundamental rules of space activities in Ukraine. All basic regulations of this document correspond to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee’s international recommendations.
Currently, many leading space companies are developing space debris removal systems. These systems can conditionally be divided into two types: passive and active ones.
Passive systems are mounted onto objects that have to be deorbited in advance, and are activated after their mission’s complete. These systems can use different physics for deorbitation. The Yuzhnoye State Design Office proposes devices the operation principle of which lies in augmentation of their aerodynamic drag force by creating a large surface area due to inflation/deployment of special structures.
Active systems represent autonomous spacecraft able to deorbit space debris objects and/or remove them to special graveyard orbits.
ACTIVE SYSTEMS
LEOSWEEP PROJECT
SPACE SYSTEM FOR ACTIVE SPACE DEBRIS REMOVAL
PASSIVE SYSTEMS
INFLATABLE DRAG SYSTEM
SAIL DRAG SYSTEM
The space debris problem emerged in the second half of the 20th century with the launch of first artificial Earth satellites. Left at earth orbits, space objects began to pose a threat to functioning spacecraft and, in particular, to stations with crews on board.
With the expansion of space exploration the population of space debris began to grow rapidly. It required appropriate measures to be taken. In 1993, a number of space agencies created the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The primary purposes of this organization are to exchange information between committee members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation, and to identify debris mitigation options. This committee has developed the “IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines”.
Ukraine has also developed and adopted an appropriate document “Limitation of Near-Earth Orbital Debris Making at Operation of Space Technical Equipment” from July 19th, 2006 which dictates fundamental rules of space activities in Ukraine. All basic regulations of this document correspond to the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee’s international recommendations.
Currently, many leading space companies are developing space debris removal systems. These systems can conditionally be divided into two types: passive and active ones.
Passive systems are mounted onto objects that have to be deorbited in advance, and are activated after their mission’s complete. These systems can use different physics for deorbitation. The Yuzhnoye State Design Office proposes devices the operation principle of which lies in augmentation of their aerodynamic drag force by creating a large surface area due to inflation/deployment of special structures.
Active systems represent autonomous spacecraft able to deorbit space debris objects and/or remove them to special graveyard orbits.
ACTIVE SYSTEMS
LEOSWEEP PROJECT
SPACE SYSTEM FOR ACTIVE SPACE DEBRIS REMOVAL
PASSIVE SYSTEMS