Reducing the risk of space debris collision

Date:
June 18, 2020
Source:
Springer
Summary:
Scientists model the complex rendezvous manoeuvers a tug vehicle
clearing space debris would have to undergo to mitigate the risk
of collision at the moment of coupling.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
As humanity expands its horizons beyond the Earth and begins to consider
space missions with extended duration, sustainability necessitates the
launch of more space vehicles, increasing the risk of collision with
existing space debris.

One method of clearing this debris involves a tug vehicle dragging it to
a safe region. In a new paper published in EPJ Special Topics, authors
Anto^nio Delson Conceic,a~o de Jesus and Gabriel Luiz F. Santos, both
from the State University of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, model the
complex rendezvous manoeuvres a tug vehicle clearing space debris would
have to undergo to mitigate the risk of a collision that could cause irreparable damage at the moment of coupling.


==========================================================================
As the authors point out, space missions occur in an environment
populated by around 3,600 human-made satellites, of which under a
third are operational. The non-operational units are subject to leakage, explosions and fragmentation further littering the region around the Earth
-- -especially at Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). A botched collision could not
only result in irreparable damage, but also the creation of more space
debris that could hamper further missions. This makes towing operations
to clear this debris desirable, but dangerous.

The duo studied the use of propulsion systems to control the objects'
relative velocities and positions in a rendezvous manoeuvre performed
around the Earth.

Such operations require that tow vehicle and the debris have null
velocities and relative position at the moment of connection. Examining
the parameters of these operations through the solutions of a
multivariable tensor equation, de Jesus and Santos found that encounter manoeuvres of a space-debris towing vehicle can be implemented in minimal
time and with a simultaneity that arises from bringing the velocity and relative final positions of the two objects to zero at the same instant.

The successful connection between objects in space can, of course,
be applied in more scenarios than just the shifting of space
debris. Connecting vehicles could become a vital part of the development
of a sustainable long-term space mission.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Springer. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Anto^nio Delson C. de Jesus, Gabriel Luiz F. Santos. Reducing the
risk of
space debris collisions using conditions or performance simultaneous
operation in minimum time. The European Physical Journal Special
Topics, 2020; 229 (8): 1419 DOI: 10.1140/epjst/e2020-900194-x ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618110957.htm

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