Bolt-On Capture Detumble Deorbit Device

The development of technology to enable the capture, detumbling, and, if necessary, de-orbiting of errant orbiting space objects is crucial for the long-term sustainability and safety of space operations. As the number of satellites and spacecraft in Earth’s orbit increases each year, so does the amount of space debris which pose a serious danger to both current and future space missions. Without the ability to manage the growth of these errant objects, the likelihood of collisions will increase dramatically, triggering a cascade of events often referred to as the Kessler Syndrome, where each collision generates more debris, further escalating the risk of additional collisions. In the proposed effort, we will carry out a design for a Bolt-on Capture, Detumbling, De-orbit Device for Space Objects, the BoCaD. The design will build on the work we did in the past, where we used inflatable booms constructed from laminates of structural fabric. The booms start as straight, and upon contact with the object, can be commanded to grapple around it. The tumbling rate is reduced with the use of small thrusters in combination with a pair of cable-attached yo-yo masses. If de-orbiting is desired, a BoDe (Bolt-on Deorbiter for Satellites) device deploys, increasing the system’s surface area against the atmosphere. For higher altitudes, where there is very little to no atmospheric drag, a passively self-articulating vane skirt powered by shape memory alloy material is used. The vanes passively follow and unfollow the sun to capture and avoid solar radiation pressure, depending on what side of the orbit the device is on. The object loses orbital energy on the ram side of the orbit and avoids absorbing solar pressure on the other side. The end result is a gradual decrease in orbital altitude, eventually leading to orbit decay. The vanes can be reversed if it is desired to place the object in a higher altitude parking orbit.