STUDY OF HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT ON ELECTRODYNAMIC TETHER FOR TETHER LIFETIME EVALUATION

Paper number

IAC-10,A6,3,8,x9026

Author

Mr. Atsushi Yanagida, Waseda University, Japan

Coauthor

Ms. Satomi Kawamoto, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Masumi Higashide, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Sunao Hasegawa, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ISAS, Japan

Coauthor

Prof. Susumu Toda, Waseda University, Japan

Year

2010

Abstract

Hypervelocity impact experiments on electrodynamic tethers

       The electrodynamic tether (EDT) is one of the most promising propulsion systems for de-orbiting debris in low earth orbit (LEO). End-of-mission de-orbit required by debris mitigation guidelines and orbital transfer for active debris removal require much propellant if a conventional propulsion system is used. An EDT, on the other hand, can provide deceleration without the need for propellant or high electrical
power. However, a tether is very long and thin structure, and it can be easily severed by small debris impacts. So the expected lifetime of the tether needs to be evaluated for mission analysis. In order to calculate the expected lifetime, two parameters are used: DTC (critical distance of tether) and dc (The fatal debris diameter). In the past, some hypervelocity impact experiments were conducted on non-conductive tethers and these two parameters for non-conductive tether had been reported while no data for a conductive tether is reported. Thus hypervelocity impact experiments on electrodynamic tether were conducted using a large-sized two-stage light gas gun at
ISAS in JAXA. Projectile is made by Aluminum or SUS, and its diameter is 0.1[mm] ~ 0.3[mm]. Tether consists of twisted SUS and Aluminum wires. As a result of hypervelocity experiments, dc and DTC were calculated and it was shown that the conductive tether used in the experiments has good tolerance to small sized debris impact compared with non-conductive tethers.

Abstract document

IAC-10,A6,3,8,x9026.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-10.A6.3.8.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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