Focused Solar Ablation: A Nanosat-Based Method for Active Removal of Space Debris

Abstract

A novel concept for the active removal of space debris using solar power is proposed. Focused solar ablation is an in-space propulsion concept based on using concentrator mirrors on nanosats and using the solar power to evaporate material from the debris to produce deceleration thrust thereby providing the ∆V necessary to deorbit. An energy balance is used along with free-molecular effusion theory to estimate the thrust produced by the concept and the corresponding deorbit times for an aluminum debris masses of 10 kg and 0.27 kg for various concentrator mirror areas and the diameter of the spot on which the solar power is concentrated. The analysis shows that the deorbit times of a few hours for both masses showing that the method is attractive for active space debris removal. Experiments performed using electron beams to evaporate aluminum in a vacuum chamber show that the method is also practically feasible to deorbit space debris using solar power available in low earth orbit (LEO).

Microspike Based Chemical/Electric Thruster Concept for Versatile Nanosat Propulsion

“…This device could also be used as a main drive for nanospace-craft of Figure 1. Nanosat based removal of space debris using focused solar ablation [2] . The proposed electric/chemical micropropulsion system is enabling nanosat maneuvering and precise station keeping.…”

“…The nanosatellite uses a dual-mode microthruster to reduce orbit lifetime of space junk by the reactive force generated by solar ablation. [2] Preliminary studies [3] using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method have shown that plugannular chemical (PAC) micronozzle offers higher thrust than conventional designs due to a better utilization of pressure thrust. Isp has been increased by more than 100% over convergingdiverging nozzles at low Reynolds numbers.…”