The small orbital debris population and its impact on space activities and ecological safety

Адушкин, В. В.; Aksenov, O. Yu.; Veniaminov, S. S.; Козлов, С. И.; Tyurenkova, V.V.

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.01.015

Cited by 41 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…With the increasing frequency of space launch activities, the amount of space debris has dramatically increased [ 1 ]. According to data from the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) long-term monitoring of targets above 10 cm in low Earth orbit and targets above 1 m in geostationary orbit, it is known that the number of objects in Earth orbit has surged from approximately 11,000 in 2000 to nearly 20,000 in 2020 over the last two decades [ 2 , 3 ]. Currently, most policies, standards, and other regulations are reflected in curbing the increase, but the existing space debris in orbit still poses a threat to spacecraft operating in orbit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simulation and an Experimental Study of Space Harpoon Low-Velocity Impact, Anchored Debris

Zhao

Pang

Zhang³

et al. 2022

Materials

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The space harpoon is a rigid-flexible, coupled debris capture method with a simple, reliable structure and a high adaptability to the target. For the process of impacting and embedding the harpoon into the target plate, the effect of friction at a low-velocity impact is studied, and the criteria for effective embedding of the harpoon and the corresponding launch velocity are determined. A simulation model of the dynamics of the harpoon and the target plate considering tangential friction is established, and the reliability of the numerical simulation model is verified by comparing the impact test, focusing on the kinetic energy change and embedding length during the impact of the harpoon. The results show that the frictional effect in the low-velocity impact is more obvious for the kinetic energy consumption of the harpoon itself, and the effective embedding of the harpoon into the anchored target ranges from 50~90 mm, corresponding to a theoretical launch initial velocity between 88.4~92.5 m/s.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simulation and an Experimental Study of Space Harpoon Low-Velocity Impact, Anchored Debris

Zhao

Pang

Zhang³

et al. 2022

Materials

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“…For the continuous cleaning of the space debris, the TSNRS with a large structure needs to mauver in orbit for quite a long time. According to the ADR mission plan (Forshaw et al , 2016), the target debris that TSNRS cleans up is usually some derelict spacecraft, they usually produce a large number of small debris scattered around them after being hit by space debris (Adushkin et al , 2020). Therefore, TSNRS’s safety in orbit has become a critical problem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scholars Non-target objects (Liu et al, 2018;Zhang and Huang, 2018;Zhao et al, 2020b) have studied the dynamics and control strategy of the space net, and also improve the TSNRS's stability and capture ability. However, the rapid increasing space debris has caused more worrying (Adushkin et al, 2020), the number of debris has been rising rapidly in the past two decades, about 28,160 space objects are tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network, which covers objects larger than about 5 cm to 1 m. A large proportion of debris objects in orbit today are left over from the collision between satellites Cosmos-2251 and Iridium 33 in 2009, and the size of these clouds of debris are getting small under the impacts of Kessler (Kessler and Cour-Palais, 1978;Mason et al, 2011). Moreover, the number of commercial satellites launched to near-Earth space has over 2000 up to 2021, especially the Star-link they have launched more than 1,600 satellites (1,600/42,000) operating in Low-Earth Orbit until September 15, 2021 (Starlink, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collision response and obstacle avoidance of the tethered-space net robot system with non-target objects

Wei

Pang

et al. 2022

AEAT

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Purpose This paper aims to study the encounter issues of the Tethered-Space Net Robot System (TSNRS) with non-target objects on orbit during the maneuver, including the collision issues with small space debris and the obstacle avoidance from large obstacles. Design/methodology/approach For the collision of TSNRS with small debris, the available collision model of the tethered net and its limitation is discussed, and the collision detection method is improved. Then the dynamic response of TSNRS is studied and a closed-loop controller is designed. For the obstacle avoidance, the variable enveloping circle of the TSNRS has coupled with the artificial potential field (APF) method. In addition, the APF is improved with a local trajectory correction method to avoid the overbending segment of the trajectory. Findings The collision model coupled with the improved collision detection method solves the detection failure and speeds up calculation efficiency by 12 times. Collisions of TSNRS with small debris make the local thread stretch and deforms finally making the net a mess. The boundary of the disturbance is obtained by a series of collision tests, and the designed controller not only achieved the tracking control of the TSNRS but also suppressed the disturbance of the net. Practical implications This paper fills the gap in the research on the collision of the tethered net with small debris and makes the collision model more general and efficient by improving the collision detection method. And the coupled obstacle avoidance method makes the process of obstacle avoidance safer and smoother. Originality/value The work in this paper provides a reference for the on-orbit application of TSNRS in the active space debris removal mission.

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“…The increasing number of space debris has seriously affected human space activities [1]. According to data from the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN), with long-term monitoring of targets above 10 cm in low-Earth orbit and targets above 1 m in geostationary orbit, it is known that the number of objects in Earth's orbit has surged over the last two decades, from approximately 11,000 in 2000 to nearly 20,000 in 2020 [2,3]. At present, many countries are actively exploring feasible solutions and providing appropriate policy and financial support for research [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Simulation and Parameter Analysis of Harpoon Capturing Space Debris

Yue

Shi

et al. 2022

Materials

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This paper aims to study the penetration effect of harpoons on space debris to ensure the sustainable development of the space environment and solve the increasingly serious space debris problem. Firstly, a harpoon system was designed to capture space debris. Secondly, based on the Johnson–Cook dynamic constitutive model and fracture failure criterion, the finite element models of aluminum alloy plates were established. Then, the ballistic limit theory for the aluminum alloy target predicted the minimum launch velocity of the harpoon. Finally, the validation experiment was set up to verify the correctness of the model. The results show that the error between the simulation results of the speed for the harpoon embedded in the target and the theoretical results of the ballistic limit is 9.1%, which provides guidance for active space debris removal technology.

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The small orbital debris population and its impact on space activities and ecological safety

Cited by 41 publications

References 10 publications

A Simulation and an Experimental Study of Space Harpoon Low-Velocity Impact, Anchored Debris

A Simulation and an Experimental Study of Space Harpoon Low-Velocity Impact, Anchored Debris

Collision response and obstacle avoidance of the tethered-space net robot system with non-target objects

Dynamic Simulation and Parameter Analysis of Harpoon Capturing Space Debris

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