Space Tether Systems For The Space Objects Deorbit Operations

Paper number

IAC-07-C4.6.05

Author

Prof. Anatoly Alpatov, Institute of Technical Mechanics, Ukraine

Coauthor

Mr. Viacheslav P. Gusynin, Ukraine

Coauthor

Dr. Alexandr Pirozhenko, Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Science and National Space Agency of Ukraine, Ukraine

Year

2007

Abstract

Space tether systems (STS) are the promising directions of the development of space-system engineering. The great length of STS enables essential increasing the interaction effects with the external fields of the Earth, accumulation of considerable kinetic energy and kinetic moment, and their effective use for transport operations. Occupation of space objects with the help of STS allows using the mechanical energy of this objects motion to transfer the useful load to the higher orbits with the simultaneous solution of the task concerning withdrawal of these objects from orbits. Realization of the STS projects supposes to solve both the problem of environment pollution and obtaining a significant economic effect and acquiring new scientific knowledge.
In the paper the possible projects concerning application of space tether systems for transportation operation in the space concerning withdrawal of space objects from orbits is considered. The review of the projects concerning non-synchronous space lift and energy-power electrodynamic tether system has been made.
State of these projects development in Ukraine and the tasks of theoretical and experimental investigations has been analyzed.
In the paper, the main attention is paid to the author projects dealing with the application of space tether systems for transport operations. The projects, developing the idea of gravyflight, and the projects based on the change of system kinetic moment and redistribution of the rates of bodies at their separation are considered.
On the basis of the developed model of STS disturbed motion and its investigation by the asymptotic methods of non-linear mechanics, the main regularities of the evolution of STS rotation motion at the effect of internal and external disturbances have been analyzed. Estimations of the evolution of STS rotation plane relative to orbital plane at unavailability of system motion control have been plotted. The interaction between orbital and relative motion has been analyzed for the long-distant and high-speed rotating STS mass regarding a center. The control laws by orientation and the kinetic moments of orbital and relative motion of STS at the cost of internal forces by the periodic distance change between bodies are proposed. 

Abstract document

IAC-07-C4.6.05.pdf

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