About Orbital Tugs Creation For Space Debris Mitigation On The Operational Orbits

Paper number

IAC-07-A6.3.08

Author

Dr. Mykola M. Slyunyaev, Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Ukraine

Coauthor

Dr. Stanislav Konyukhov, Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Ukraine

Coauthor

Mr. Anatoly Logvinenko, Yuzhnoye State Design Office, Ukraine

Year

2007

Abstract

Flight schemes and main elements of orbital tugs technical appearance which intended for re-orbit of the worked out spacecrafts and another elements of space debris  from its operation orbits are given in this report. 
The orbital tug approaches to the object of space debris, for example, with the spacecraft. Long flexible puller with the fixing device on the spacecraft is discharged from the on-board of tug. End of the puller is fixed on the spacecraft and thereby is provided a flexible mechanical connection with the tug.
The tug transfers a spacecraft on the de-orbit and reentry (or on the "burial" orbit at space). After that, connection of the spacecraft and tug are disconnected. For command from the Earth, the tug directs to the next object of space debris.
Power plant of the tug and its engines and propelling devices allowed to use an energy of interaction with magnetic field of the Earth and radiation energy of the Sun. Options of nuclear on-board plant are too considered.
Application of the tug should be allowed:
-	to cleaning of normal orbits from having space debris;
-	to re-orbit promptly of space debris objects with the trajectory of the International Space Station and also to avoid the possible collision with space debris of the another big, separately valuable, space objects.
It should be sufficiently to foresee a response part for fixing device of the tug puller on new spacecrafts and thereby the weight and useful volume should not to sacrifice for re-orbit means with operation orbit of the modern orbital spacecrafts.  

Abstract document

IAC-07-A6.3.08.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A6.3.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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