Speakers
Description
The growing utilisation of Earth’s orbit for services like Satellite Communications and Earth Observation has led to a rapid increase of the number of satellites launched each year. As a result, the population of active satellites in orbit has grown swiftly in the past years, which increases their collision risk. Furthermore, around three quarters of all tracked objects in space today are inactive and cannot control their orbit, posing a severe threat to the long-term sustainability of in-space activities. To prevent a further increase in the number of uncontrolled space objects, satellite operators must plan for the safe removal of their assets at end-of-life. Developing a reliable standard for Active Debris Removal (ADR) is therefore fundamental if we are to ensure we can sustainably continue to operate in orbit. This standard could also boost technological innovation, particularly within the context of in-orbit servicing and operations.
Under the direction of ESA, Novaspace, GMV, Sener, The Exploration Company, AVS and Astroscale are currently in the process of developing a Standard Deorbiting Interface for LEO Satcom (SDILEO), with the purpose of streamlining deorbiting operations and facilitating ADR. In order to do so, a state-of-the-art assessment of current and emerging active removal interface solutions was carried out, as well as an analysis of preliminary requirements to develop a standard interface design for the ADR of LEO Satcom satellites.
The analysis performed highlighted two main categories of ADR interfaces, for prepared and unprepared targets. Based on a comprehensive database of satellite removal solutions, relevant interfacing types were identified and defined, as well as detumbling methodologies, navigation aids, orbit & attitude reconstruction methodologies. The mapping of capture interfaces also showed a stronger focus amongst existing stakeholders towards unprepared interfacing types. Nonetheless, the simpler development and operational requirements of the prepared interface types (i.e., grappling and magnetic), results in a significant traction for these kinds of design as well especially in the mid- to longer-term.