Speaker
Description
Controlling the levels of space debris has become a greater focus of the industry given the volume of spacecraft expected to be launched in the foreseeable future. The re-entry of spacecraft into the Earth’s atmosphere can contain fragments which are able to survive the loads and heat experienced during re-entry into the atmosphere. These same fragments will also have a probability to cause harm or damage to humans and the environment.
There have been numerous studies and projects that have been performed in order to gain better understanding of re-entry processes and to assure that more spacecraft fragments demise during re-entry manoeuvres. Yet, substantial knowledge gaps on the demise and fragmentation processes of various components remain to be closed.
The objective of this D4D activity being discussed is to enhance the knowledge on the demise of optical and electronic equipment of satellite platforms in order to establish validated re-entry models. For this purposes equipment potentially causing re-entry risks, as star trackers, battery modules, and electronic equipment have been analysed and investigated in on-ground demise tests in a representative environment.
Given the casualty risk is driven by the number and size of re-entering fragments, ascertaining the demise behaviour of the aforementioned components will aid in improving the modelling and simulation of spacecraft component demise behaviour, and further industries understanding and capabilities in more sustainable spacecraft design.
