Active Debris Removal Systems
Author
Isabelle Jacobson
PHYS F211X F06, Fall 2018
Professor David Newman
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Space Debris Removal Systems

Space debris low in Earth's orbit has become a significant threat to current and future spacecraft missions.

  • Space debris can collide with and damage spacecraft.
  • These collisions contribute to the cascade effect of space debris.
  • As a result, space debris has become smaller and harder to detect by current systems.

If you are interested in learning about possible methods for active debris removal and technological methods of detecting and avoiding debris, continue reading »

Active Debris Removal Systems

Active debris removal methods require physical contact with and removal of debris to prevent debris from colliding with other debris or with spacecraft. 
Many active debris removal systems have been proposed in the past decade, but none of the systems have followed through on removing any debris from Earth’s lower orbit. A large concern with active space removal technology is its reliability. Reliability is a term that relates to the physical stability and endurance of the systems on broad or precise debris removal missions. Another challenge faced is avoiding additional collisions with the removal system when actively removing space debris.3 Some of the more reliable, accessible, and likely successful methods of active space removal will be briefly discussed in this section. These methods are discussed globally among astrophysicists and have potential to be beneficial to international space programs.