Speaker
Description
CAT In‑Orbit Demonstration (CAT-IOD) mission addresses the increasing need for reliable end‑of‑life disposal in LEO. As satellite populations grow, the probability of failures during disposal also increases. ESA’s Design for Removal (D4R) concept mitigates this risk by standardizing removal aids so that an Active Debris Removal (ADR) provider can still rendezvous with, capture and remove a spacecraft even when conventional disposal functions are unavailable.
In this context, CAT-IOD mission is a critical step to de‑risk the adoption of D4R concept. CAT-IOD is tasked with verifying and validating the ESA D4R standard interfaces in orbit, mainly a 1:1 representative CAT bay and Markers to Support Navigation (MSN), as used by forthcoming missions The in‑orbit demonstrator is designed around two representative operational scenarios: (i) cooperative capture, where the target remains operational but cannot complete EOL removal, and (ii) uncooperative capture, where the target is non‑operational and may be tumbling. Demonstrating both scenarios provides confidence that D4R interfaces can be used safely across credible EOL failure modes.
This paper aims to present the Phase A activities and the main objectives for Phase B activities. In the frame of Phase A activities, end‑to‑end mission concept is defined to synchronize and rendezvous with a representative target, perform secure capture, detumble the combined stack and test a safe change of altitude of the target, emulating a relocation for uncontrolled deorbit to atmospheric re-entry. Key feasibility and programme drivers are dominated by rendezvous/capture GNC performance, propulsion sizing for proximity operations and detumbling, and operational safety supported by an adequate ground segment and verification campaign. Early attention to interface definition and validation planning are essential to control cost and schedule in the next phases.
The Phase A activities have demonstrated that an end‑to‑end CAT-IOD mission concept to validate ESA D4R interfaces is feasible using heritage‑based servicer platforms and a representative target prepared for ADR activities. The baseline architecture and operations concept are consistent with the required cooperative and uncooperative capture demonstrations and provide a credible path to in‑orbit validation of the CAT bay and MSN interfaces.
Phase B activities should focus on consolidating the selected servicer‑target combination, finalizing CAT payload-platform interfaces and performing detailed budgets and analyses (mass, power, DV, thermal and communications) for the end‑to‑end mission. Critical technology and design consolidations include detailed GNC and rendezvous strategy definition for both cooperative and uncooperative cases; propulsion subsystem trade‑off and qualification plan and refinement of the ground segment concept to maximize contact during safety‑critical operations.
ESA’s D4R initiative promotes standardization so that future constellations and large missions can incorporate removal‑aids at design time, reducing the effort and risk for downstream ADR services. CAT-IOD provides in‑orbit evidence to support this standardization and to build confidence among spacecraft manufacturers, operators and service providers.