RemoveDEBRIS: An in-orbit demonstration of technologies for the removal of space debris. (26th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aglietti, G.S.; Taylor, B.; Fellowes, S.; Ainley, S.; Tye, D.; Cox, C.; Zarkesh, A.; Mafficini, A.; Vinkoff, N.; Bashford, K.; Salmon, T.; Retat, I.; Burgess, C.; Hall, A.; Chabot, T.; Kanani, K.; Pisseloup, A.; Bernal, C.; Chaumette, F.; Pollini, A.; Steyn, W.H.
• Is Part Of: Aeronautical journal. Volume 124:Number 1271(2020)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2019-11-26
• Subjects: Space Debris, -- Active Debris Removal, ADR, -- CubeSats, -- satellite missions, -- end of life disposal, -- deorbiting, -- net, -- harpoon, -- vision-based navigation, -- drag-sail; Aeronautics -- Periodicals; 629.1305
• DOI: 10.1017/aer.2019.136
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-9240

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The RemoveDEBRIS mission has been the first mission to successfully demonstrate, in-orbit, a series of technologies that can be used for the active removal of space debris. The mission started late in 2014 and was sponsored by a grant from the EC that saw a consortium led by the Surrey Space Centre to develop the mission, from concept to in-orbit demonstrations, that terminated in March 2019. Technologies for the capture of large space debris, like a net and a harpoon, have been successfully tested together with hardware and software to retrieve data on non-cooperative target debris kinematics from observations carried out with on board cameras. The final demonstration consisted of the deployment of a drag-sail to increase the drag of the satellite to accelerate its demise.