NHD celestial body directional mining method based on space junk recovery and cold welding protection

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for controlling a universal celestial body to directionally fall to a preset designated area, and relates to the technical field of space mining and space junk recovery. The method comprises three subsystems Na, Hi and Da which cooperatively operate in sequence: the Na subsystem determines a force application parameter through orbit measurement and calculation, and enables a target celestial body to accurately fly to a preset designated area by adopting an instant external force or continuous thrust mode; the Hi subsystem is used for carrying out gravity-free reagent full-automatic film removal pretreatment on captured space junk in a space environment, and the junk and a target celestial body are attached and fixed or the junk is subjected to mutual cold welding to form a protective shell by utilizing the natural cold welding characteristic of space; the Da subsystem captures space junk in a wide area through an expandable net body and gathers the space junk, and the net body is recycled after a protective shell is formed. Directional falling of the target celestial body and space junk recycling are synchronously achieved, and the method has the advantages of being low in cost, good in protection effect, free of ethical risks and the like and can be used for civil scenes such as aerolite mineral mining, space junk cleaning and interstellar base supply.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of aerospace mining and space debris recycling technology, specifically to a general-purpose control method for the directional fall of celestial bodies to a predetermined designated area, and in particular to a system architecture method that simultaneously achieves directional fall of celestial bodies and recycling of space debris through the coordinated operation of three subsystems: Na, Hi, and Da. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing frequency of space activities, the amount of space debris in near-Earth orbit is surging, posing a serious threat to spacecraft in orbit. Meanwhile, asteroids, meteorites, and other celestial bodies are rich in rare metals and other mineral resources, possessing extremely high mining value. In existing technologies, celestial body orbit manipulation is mostly used to prevent impacts with Earth (such as NASA's nuclear explosion deflection patent), while space debris cleanup and celestial body mining are usually carried out as separate missions, resulting in high costs and low efficiency. Furthermore, meteorites require specialized ablation protection layers upon atmospheric reentry, further increasing mining costs. How to simultaneously achieve directional celestial body reentry and space debris recovery at low cost and high efficiency, and transform the debris into protective resources, is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a general-purpose control method for directional falling of celestial bodies into a predetermined designated area, aiming to solve the problems of high cost and difficulty in protection in existing technologies for celestial body mining and waste recycling.

[0004] For ease of description, this method is referred to as "NHD". Here, Na represents the directional orbit control subsystem, Hi represents the surface pretreatment and cold welding protection subsystem, and Da represents the space debris collection and net recovery subsystem. The three operate in coordination in the order of Na→Hi→Da to achieve the complete technical solution.

[0005] This method is based on "generalized logic + adaptable execution + three-version hierarchical structure". It does not limit the celestial body (size / distance / material) to be manipulated, the target area, or the force application device, but only defines the core execution logic. It integrates a low-cost design that combines space debris collection, spontaneous cold welding in space, ablation sacrificial protection, and on-demand graded abrasion reduction to meet the dual needs of mineral mining and space debris recycling. It directly collects and gathers space debris to serve as a protective ablation layer. The cold welding can be flexibly applied according to the surface material of the meteorite: for scenarios where the metallic composition of the meteorite surface is compatible, it achieves a close fit and fixation between space debris and the meteorite; for scenarios where the meteorite surface is rock, minerals to be mined, etc., which cannot be cold welded to space debris, spontaneous cold welding between space debris forms a complete and sealed protective shell similar to a "nut shell", which completely wraps the minerals to be mined inside. It does not require welding to the meteorite body, but only relies on the shell's own structure to achieve a firm wrapping. This not only completes the space debris cleaning but also reduces the cost of meteorite protection. There is no need to sort or pick the space debris throughout the process.

[0006] The key functional modules of this method include: 1. Selection of Celestial Bodies: Select celestial bodies (e.g., meteorites, asteroids, or interstellar debris) that can be precisely observed and for which operations can be carried out. In a preferred embodiment, the target is a near-Earth orbit 5-20 meter iron-nickel meteorite or silicate asteroid containing high-value mineable minerals.

[0007] 2. Orbit Calculation: After determining the target area, modeling and calculating the force application threshold, timing, and direction covers "guided trajectory reorientation to the target area from a distance" and "direct reorientation of the trajectory when passing through the target area," with all three versions sharing the same calculation logic. Simultaneously, based on the target celestial body's current orbit and the preset landing point (e.g., the uninhabited area of ​​the Pacific Ocean), the required velocity increment, force application point location, and force application direction are calculated in reverse to ensure that the reentry trajectory after reorientation strictly points to the preset safe area, fundamentally avoiding the risk of accidental crashes. For example, STK software can be used to accurately predict the impact point or docking point.

[0008] 3. Contamination Detection: Drilling deep core samples from celestial bodies for testing to confirm the absence of extraterrestrial microbial contamination and compliance with international planetary protection agreements. For example, a 2-3 meter core sample can be drilled using a micro-drilling tool and sent to a Level 3 biosafety laboratory for testing.

[0009] 4. Force Deployment (Core of Version 3): Select according to needs, and apply force according to the calculated parameters to achieve track adjustment. Instantaneous External Force Type: Employing one-time or short-term force application methods such as "blasting / pushing / traction," this type requires no continuous action and derails the celestial body solely through instantaneous external force, maximizing cost reduction. In a preferred embodiment, based on the velocity increment requirements calculated from the orbit, small explosive charges or simple traction devices are deployed in the pre-installed force area on the celestial body. The location, quantity, and equivalent of the charges are precisely set according to the calculation results, ensuring that the direction and magnitude of the applied force strictly meet the redirection requirements. After remote triggering, the celestial body flies along a preset trajectory to a designated uninhabited area (e.g., uninhabited waters in the South Pacific). The entire process is monitorable and traceable, preventing accidental crashes into densely populated areas.

[0010] Basic engine version: Utilizes a conventional thrust device with a fixed jet direction, guiding the celestial body towards the target area through continuous unidirectional thrust, balancing cost and stability. For example, aerospace-grade small solid rocket motors can be magnetically attached to the celestial body, continuously jetting in one direction and maintaining operation according to the calculated thrust value.

[0011] Upgraded fine-tuning version: Employs a thrust device with dynamic orientation correction, adjusting the jet direction in real time based on the celestial body's attitude and orbital deviations to achieve precise trajectory control. For example, an adjustable thruster with attitude sensing can be used, allowing unmanned probes to remotely monitor and correct the jet angle, dynamically fine-tuning the trajectory.

[0012] A continuous force application device can be pulled back and reused after providing sufficient kinetic energy, for example, by using a rope.

[0013] 5. Trajectory Guidance and Integrated Mineral-Waste Treatment and Protection: Guides celestial bodies to precisely fall or dock according to the environmental characteristics of the target area; simultaneously achieves meteorite protection and space debris collection and recycling, employing an integrated solution of net capture and aggregation + simple treatment (upgraded to fully automated film removal with zero-gravity reagents) + space-generated cold welding + ablation sacrifice + net recovery, completely replacing traditional professional protective layers. Specific implementation details are as follows: Net-based aggregation: A deployable, giant flexible net is used to capture and aggregate space debris over a wide area. To ensure the safety of the capture process, this method first uses orbital calculations based on the Na subsystem to ensure that the recovery device and the target space debris enter a similar orbit, moving in the same direction and at the same speed, thereby reducing the relative velocity to near zero and eliminating the risk of high-speed impact. The net is designed with flexible materials and has buffering and energy-absorbing capabilities. Even with slight relative velocity deviations, the net can deform to dissipate impact kinetic energy, preventing debris from breaking apart or going out of control. For scenarios where cold welding with meteorites is not possible, the net is shaped to surround and aggregate the space debris around the area of ​​the meteorite to be mined, forming a preliminary encapsulation. For scenarios where welding with meteorites is possible, the net is directly wrapped around the outside of the meteorite's mineral-rich area, ensuring that the aggregated space debris adheres tightly to the meteorite surface. Simple processing (upgraded to fully automated film removal with zero-gravity reagents): Utilizing the natural property of liquids spontaneously forming uniform water spheres and automatically covering the target surface in the zero-gravity environment of space, a special film removal reagent is released. This special film removal reagent targets the protective layers such as organic coatings and metal oxide layers commonly used on the surface of space debris to prevent cold welding. Conventional solvents (such as acetone solvents, acid and alkaline cleaning agents, etc.) capable of dissolving or peeling off these protective layers are selected. The zero-gravity environment of space causes the reagent to form liquid spheres and automatically cover the surface of the debris, achieving fully automated surface pretreatment without dead angles, manual intervention, or equipment intervention, creating conditions for subsequent spontaneous cold welding. The film removal reagent is a highly volatile solvent or one that leaves no residue after reaction. Utilizing the vacuum environment of space, it evaporates / sublimates on its own after completing surface cleaning, leaving no residue that hinders cold welding.

[0014] Space-based spontaneous cold welding (dual-scenario adaptation): Scenario A (Meteorite Surface Can Be Welded): Utilizing the natural environmental characteristics of space, such as ultra-high vacuum, microgravity, and no oxidation, space debris and meteorites that have undergone simple processing can be cold-welded together on their own without the need for additional welding equipment or human intervention. This allows the space debris and meteorites to form a strong integrated structure, which becomes a sacrificial ablation layer on the outer layer of the meteorite. Scenario B (The meteorite surface is rock or minerals to be mined, which cannot be welded): Utilizing the characteristics of the space environment, the space debris is allowed to undergo cold welding on its own. Through multi-point welding between the debris, a complete and sealed "nut shell"-like protective shell is formed, which completely encloses the minerals to be mined inside. A small buffer gap is reserved between the shell and the minerals (utilizing the natural gaps during aggregation). There is no need to weld with the meteorite body. The shell structure formed by the cold welding of the debris itself achieves stable encapsulation and becomes a sacrificial ablation layer independent of the meteorite body. Ablation Sacrifice Protection: When a meteorite re-enters the atmosphere, the outer layer of space debris ablation layer (integrated structure or "nut shell" type shell) burns and falls off layer by layer due to friction with the atmosphere. The material sacrifice carries away most of the heat, isolating the internal meteorite ore from ablation, fragmentation and peeling by high temperature, so there is no need to perform high-precision professional protection treatment on the meteorite. Net recovery: Cold welding only occurs between space debris or at the contact points between space debris and meteorites. The flexible net does not participate in cold welding. After the ablation layer or protective shell is firmly bonded to the meteorite, the net can be remotely controlled to shrink and recover, and can be reused for space debris capture or meteorite protection, achieving multiple reuses.

[0015] At the same time, based on the ore's temperature resistance, abrasion resistance characteristics, and peak heat flux density upon re-entry into the atmosphere, the level of additional protection is reduced as needed, auxiliary protection measures are simplified, ore loss is minimized, and protective consumables can be recycled and reused.

[0016] 6. Subsequent disposal: Complete both meteorite mineral mining and space debris recycling operations according to the needs of the target area. In mining scenarios, extract minerals directly from meteorites (in non-weldable scenarios, extract internal ore after breaking open the "nut shell" type shell). Comprehensively recycle space debris fragments (integrated fragments or shell debris) that did not burn up after re-entry into the atmosphere, which can be reused according to material classification (e.g., reprocessed into aerospace consumables or industrial raw materials). Protective consumables and recycled nets can be modified and reused again.

[0017] This method offers significant cost and compliance advantages: it eliminates the need for round-trip transportation by spacecraft or manned spacecraft; it achieves zero-cost collection of space debris without discrimination, zero-welding cost through spontaneous cold welding, and reusable mesh recycling, coupled with mineral-based downgraded protection as needed, bringing the cost close to zero; it requires no high-end chips throughout the process, resulting in a low barrier to entry; the pollution detection process complies with international agreements, eliminating compliance risks; it simultaneously enables meteorite mineral mining and space debris resource recycling, significantly reducing orbital congestion and the risk of space collisions; and the cold welding phenomenon has been verified through aerospace practice, with practical cases supporting its technical feasibility and stability.

[0018] The Na subsystem (orientation orbit control) directs the target celestial body to a designated area through orbit calculation and force deployment; the Hi subsystem (surface pretreatment and cold welding protection) performs zero-gravity film removal and dual-scene cold welding on space debris to form a protective layer; and the Da subsystem (space debris collection and net recovery) captures debris, shapes and wraps it, and recovers the net. The three systems operate in coordination in the order Na→Hi→Da. Detailed Implementation

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, a near-Earth orbit 5-20 meter iron-nickel meteorite is selected as the target celestial body, and the preset landing point is an uninhabited area in the South Pacific Ocean.

[0020] Subsequently, a giant flexible net was used to capture space debris over a wide area. Using orbital calculations from the Na subsystem, the recovery device was guided into a similar orbit to the target space debris, achieving the same direction and speed, reducing the relative velocity to near zero. The net, made of flexible material, possesses buffering and energy-absorbing capabilities, and after capture, it wraps around the meteorite mineral-rich area.

[0021] The process involves releasing an acetone-based membrane-removing agent, which, in the weightless environment of space, forms a liquid sphere that automatically covers the surface of the debris, removing the anti-cold-welding coating. Utilizing the ultra-high vacuum environment of space, the treated debris spontaneously cold-welds to the meteorite surface, forming an integrated ablation layer. After the cold welding is complete, the net is remotely controlled to shrink and retract. The vacuum environment of space (near-zero pressure) causes the liquid to boil and evaporate violently at extremely low temperatures. Therefore, the acetone-based membrane-removing agent will disappear.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the reagent release device is made of a hydrophobic material (e.g., Teflon or hydrophobically coated metal) to prevent the reagent from sticking to the release device, allowing the reagent to naturally shrink into a spherical droplet at the outlet. The droplet is then precisely launched onto the target space debris surface via a spring, air pressure, or electromagnetic ejection mechanism, achieving long-distance, contactless film removal. The film removal reagent is a highly volatile solvent or one that leaves no residue after reaction. Utilizing the vacuum environment of space, it evaporates / sublimates after surface cleaning, leaving no residue that would hinder cold welding.

[0023] The STK software is used to calculate the trajectory. Based on the target celestial body's current trajectory and the preset landing point, the required velocity increment is calculated backwards to accurately determine the location and direction of the force application point. Small explosive charges are placed in the pre-installed force application area on the celestial body, and the location, quantity, and yield of the charges are precisely set based on the calculation results. After remote triggering, the celestial body flies towards the target area along the preset trajectory.

[0024] When a meteorite re-enters the atmosphere, the outer layer of debris burns and breaks off first, carrying away heat, while the internal meteorite ore remains intact. After impact, the ore is extracted, and the ablation layer fragments are sorted, recycled, and reused.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the target celestial body is a rare metallic asteroid with a surface covered in silicate rock, which cannot be cold-welded with space debris. A net surrounds and encases the metallic core region of the asteroid, shaping the debris to form a preliminary enclosure around the protected area. Utilizing the space environment, the accumulated space debris self-cold-welds, forming a complete and sealed "nutshell" protective shell through multi-point welding, with a natural buffer gap left between the shell and the ore.

[0026] Upon reentry, the outer shell ablated layer by layer, while the internal metal ore core remained intact. After impact, the shell broke open, and the ore was extracted. The remaining protective shell components were sorted and recycled, while the netting was retained for future use. This method features core innovations such as "universal applicability across all dimensions + three-version hierarchical adaptation + indiscriminate collection of space debris + spontaneous cold welding in space (dual-scenario adaptation) + ablation sacrificial protection," and combines the dual core functions of meteorite mineral mining and space debris recycling. It breaks through the limitations of traditional celestial manipulation technologies with their single function and solves industry pain points such as "the incompatibility between precision and cost," "high professional requirements for protective layers and high material costs," "the disconnect between space debris cleanup and resource development," and "the inability of some meteorite surfaces (rocks / minerals) to be cold-welded with space debris, leading to protection failure." It covers all scenarios from low-cost basic needs to high-end precision needs, and from weldable to non-weldable, adapting to current interstellar resource development and future outer space industrial layout.

[0027] The three versions achieve a tiered matching of cost and accuracy. Combined with an integrated solution for indiscriminate collection of space debris and dual-scenario cold welding protection, the cost is further reduced: the instantaneous external force version costs less than 1 / 100 of traditional technology, the basic engine version balances cost and stability, and the upgraded fine-tuning version has high accuracy (costing 1 / 10 to 1 / 20 of traditional technology). After indiscriminate collection of space debris at zero cost, it can be directly used as raw material for protective ablation layers. Whether the debris is welded to meteorites or welded into a "nut shell" by itself, no additional welding equipment or manual operation is required, completely eliminating the R&D and manufacturing costs of professional protective layers. With the help of a gravity-free reagent for fully automatic film removal—this reagent is designed for the anti-cold welding organic or metal oxide coatings commonly used on the surface of space debris. It uses conventional solvents such as acetone and acid and alkali cleaning agents, and utilizes the spherical characteristics of gravity to achieve fully automatic and full-coverage pretreatment—completely eliminating the need for manual or equipment surface treatment, further reducing costs and labor risks. The recycling and reuse of the net further reduces the cost of consumables. There are no risks of secondary explosions or space collisions throughout the process, and compliance and safety are outstanding.

[0028] The core innovations have been validated through aerospace practice: cold welding is a natural phenomenon in the space environment, proven by NASA, the Soviet Union, and modern space station missions. The logic of waste self-welding into a shell relies entirely on this natural characteristic, requiring no additional technological breakthroughs. The protective layer uses a sacrificial ablation principle consistent with the protection logic of aerospace return capsules, making the technology mature and highly practical, eliminating the need for redeveloping core protection technologies. The newly added zero-gravity reagent provides full-coverage film removal, relying on the natural physical properties of space to naturally form spheres that cover the object's surface under tension, requiring no complex equipment and further enhancing the solution's originality and low-cost advantages. The core logic is not bound to current technological levels, and equipment and protective measures can be flexibly upgraded as technology advances. It is adaptable to dual-directional scenarios and all target areas, and can be directly applied to multiple scenarios such as interstellar mining, colony resupply, direct raw material supply for outer space factories, and space debris cleanup, demonstrating strong cross-scenario reusability without requiring additional research and development.

[0029] This method achieves a triple value through a single technical solution: meteorite mineral mining, space debris management, and low-cost reuse of aerospace technology. While mining high-value meteorite minerals, it simultaneously collects and recycles space debris over a wide area, solving the cost and protection challenges of interplanetary resource development (including protection for non-weldable meteorite surfaces) and mitigating the increasing space debris environmental problems at their source. All innovative designs revolve around "low cost, simplicity, reusability, multi-functionality, and full-scenario adaptability," making it easy to implement and highly adaptable. This method not only enables efficient development of interplanetary resources but also facilitates the recycling and reuse of space debris. Furthermore, it effectively cleans up space debris in near-Earth orbit, completely resolving the problem of space debris occupying precious orbital resources and the potential fatal dangers of high-speed collisions with satellites. This further enhances the aerospace environmental protection value and practical necessity of this method, combining practical, economic, and social value. It provides universal, economical, and efficient integrated technical support for interplanetary exploration, outer space industrial development, and aerospace environmental management.

Claims

1. A general method for controlling the directional fall of a celestial body towards a predetermined designated area, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Na subsystem: Determines the force parameters of the target celestial body through orbital calculations, and uses instantaneous external force or continuous thrust to make the target celestial body fly accurately to the preset designated area; Hi subsystem: In the space environment, the surface of captured space debris is pre-treated with a fully automated film removal agent in a weightless environment. Utilizing the natural cold welding characteristics of space, the pre-treated space debris is bonded and fixed to the surface of the target celestial body, or the space debris is cold-welded to each other to form a protective shell that envelops the target celestial body. Da subsystem: Uses a deployable net to capture and aggregate space debris over a wide area, and recovers the net after the protective shell or bonding layer is formed; The Na, Hi, and Da subsystems operate in sequence and coordinate to simultaneously achieve the directional fall of the target celestial body and the recycling of space debris.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the Na subsystem, the instantaneous external force method includes calculating the required velocity increment based on the orbital calculation and then deploying explosive charges or traction devices in the pre-forced area of ​​the target celestial body to make the target celestial body fly towards the uninhabited area along a preset orbit.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the Na subsystem, the continuous thrust method includes fixing the thrust device to the target celestial body and continuously adjusting the orbit, or using a thrust device that can dynamically correct the direction to fine-tune the trajectory in real time.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the Hi subsystem, the fully automated membrane removal pretreatment with gravity-free reagent includes: releasing a special membrane removal reagent, using the zero-gravity environment of space to form a liquid sphere and automatically cover the surface of space debris, thereby removing the anti-cold welding coating from its surface.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The special film removal agent includes conventional solvents that can dissolve or peel off organic coatings or metal oxide layers, such as acetone solvents or acid and alkaline cleaning agents.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the Hi subsystem, the natural cold welding characteristics of space include: Scenario A: When the surface of the target celestial body can be cold-welded with space debris, the space debris and the surface of the target celestial body are directly cold-welded to form an integrated ablation layer; Scenario B: When the surface of the target celestial body cannot be cold-welded to space debris, the aggregated space debris will self-cold-weld to form a "nut shell"-like protective shell that surrounds the target celestial body.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the Da subsystem, after capturing space debris, the deployable net is shaped to form a preliminary package around the target celestial body's protected area, and is then recycled and reused after cold welding.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the target celestial body re-enters the atmosphere, the protective shell or integrated ablation layer is the first to ablate and sacrifice itself, protecting the internal ore from falling intact.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method described is purely for civilian use. All force operations are verified for orbital safety before they are performed to ensure that the re-entry point is located in a pre-designated uninhabited area, thus ruling out weaponization.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The designated area includes a natural celestial body pre-designated area, an outer space factory or interstellar base docking area, and the target celestial body includes meteorites, asteroids or interstellar debris.