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 »

Hydrogen Propulsion Module

Also utilizing a robotic arm, this method would not be most effective at removing small debris, but likely very effective in removing large debris relatively quickly. While not entirely removing propellant like the EDT systems, hybrid propulsion systems are still a possible alternative to “liquid propellant in-orbit propulsion systems” in that HPM offers non-toxic propellants.8 These systems are powerful enough to move large debris relatively quickly. While these systems often lack the precision of smaller systems, they are capable of efficiently removing debris while remaining conscious of current anti-pollution efforts.
More benefits of this method include lower operating costs, substantial thrust power, and the ability to remove debris quickly from densely populated orbital bands.9 The systems are becoming more compact while retaining their power, which is important in the mission of avoiding space debris collisions and deorbiting debris as efficiently as possible.