Mission Architecture For Active Space Debris Removal Using The Example of SL-8 Rocket Bodies

Kurzfassung

The increasing amount of space debris orbiting the Earth calls for measures. Along with post-mission disposal and a better understanding of their trajectories, the removal of uncontrolled objects is proven to be mandatory in the majority of the community to limit an avalanching increase of objects as shown by various studies. If these analysis are ignored, the cascade effect will end in a scenario with orbits not safe enough for operations of satellites. The cascade effect in this context results from collisions among space debris itself and in such way creating smaller particles, which eventually become too small to be detected over a large spatial region without further effort. Simulations predict a removal of at least 5 large objects per year to eventually re-stabilize the space environment around the Earth and avoid the escalation of the cascade effect already initiated. After the introduction, which addresses a promising orbit to start a multiple target removal mission, the mission concept is presented. Due to space debris being an issue for all space faring nations, this paper introduces an exemplary removal mission for 5 to 7 Russian SL-8 rocket bodies at an inclination of 83° orbiting at an altitude of 970 km - an area crowded with space debris and thus involving a high collision risk. The mission is based on a main satellite (autonomous debris removal satellite - AuDeReSa) and - according to the number of targets - 5 to 7 de-orbit kits. The idea submitted in this paper includes a parking orbit close to the targets positions, into which the set-up is launched. While the kits are equipped with a de-orbit thruster, the task of AuDeReSa is, to approach the uncooperative target, berth it, stabilize the compound system and attach the de-orbit kit onto the target. The main satellite will take each de-orbit kit separately to the individual targets, shuttling between the parking orbit and the target orbits. The fact of uncooperative targets leads to highly critical situations. Targeting without reflecting sensors on the target’s surface as well as a missing position to grab the chaser with a device increases safety demands for the spacecraft. Therefore, future effort in the field of autonomy will be taken while this paper addresses a first mission analysis and the system architecture of the set-up.