A space-based debris removal platform and method that can be assembled and reconfigured by a modular solar sail

Abstract

The invention discloses a modular solar sail assembled and reconfigurable space-based debris removal platform. The modular solar sail assembled and reconfigurable space-based debris removal platform can change the status of a single-scale debris removal mission, and cover a plurality of removing missions such as large-scale space debris and abandoned satellites over ten centimeters in a high orbit, small satellites such as low-orbit failure cubic satellites and a large number of low-orbit millimeter-class micro-space debris through flexible on-orbit reconfiguration. According to specific debris removal tasks, the required sail area is determined, the number of cell modules is determined by the area, a certain number of the cell modules are released from the platform for on-orbit connectingreconfiguration and perform a corresponding task after on-orbit unfolding.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a space-based debris removal platform and method that can be assembled and reconfigured by a modular solar sail, which is suitable for clearing tasks of different debris sizes in low and high orbits, and belongs to the technical field of overall system design. Background technique [0002] With the vigorous development of the aerospace industry, human spaceflight activities are increasing day by day. In recent years, the threat of space debris to space activities has become more and more prominent, and the environment of space debris is deteriorating day by day. For this reason, all space powers are strengthening the tracking, monitoring and protection research on space debris. The researchers found that existing debris mitigation measures can slow down the growth trend of space debris to a certain extent, but cannot change the trend of continued growth of the total amount of space debris. Collisions between space debris will...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In this type of task, there are the following problems: (1) The arresting mechanism of the flying net is still relatively complicated

(2) The task is relatively single, and it is aimed at capturing large space debris of 10 centimeters or more

(3) The tether system is relatively large and less flexible than space debris

In such tasks, there are the following problems: (1) The on-orbit deployment of the giant rope net system is very difficult, and it is easy to produce large-area winding and self-locking

(2) The attitude and orbit control of the huge rope net and membrane are all completed by four-corner satellites, which is difficult and requires a lot of fuel consumption support

(3) At the same time, the task is relatively single, and it can only intercept space debris with a relatively low relative velocity in a specific orbit

(4) For space debris with relatively high speed, it is easy to cause damage to the ultra-thin sail surface, ranging from losing the effective area to losing the effective area, and causing the entire failure of the film after tearing, and the reliability is low

(5) The fuel consumption and cost of system orbit maintenance and orbit transfer are relatively high, and multiple debris removal tasks on orbit for a long time require auxiliary operations such as fuel filling

[0005] Therefore, there is currently no debris removal platform that can solve space debris removal tasks at different orbital heights and sizes, and can operate in orbit for a long time with high efficiency and low cost.

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