Servicer Spacecraft Towing for Satellite Deorbiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite deorbiting methods, such as carrying propellant onboard for self-deorbit, are costly and limit operational life, and satellite failures can hinder effective collision avoidance and deorbiting.
Innovation Solution
A servicer spacecraft equipped with a robotic payload and various propellant systems, including electric propulsion and refillable fuel options, actively deorbits or supports self-deorbiting of client satellites by towing them to low orbits or installing auxiliary propellant modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite carries propellant onboard for self-deorbit, then deorbiting capability is achieved, but operational life is limited and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deorbiting function is extracted from the satellite itself and performed by a separate servicer spacecraft. The servicer carries the propellant and performs the deorbiting maneuver, while the satellite can maintain its full operational propellant load for mission purposes without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
A servicer spacecraft acts as an intermediary between the satellite and the deorbiting process. The servicer captures the satellite, provides the propellant for deorbiting, and executes the orbital decay maneuver, allowing the satellite to maintain full operational capability throughout its mission life.
2Reliability
If satellite carries propellant onboard for self-deorbit, then deorbiting capability is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propellant requirement for deorbiting is extracted from the satellite's mass budget and transferred to the servicer spacecraft. This allows the satellite to be launched with minimal or zero deorbit propellant, reducing launch mass and cost, while the servicer provides the necessary propellant from its own supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The servicer spacecraft provides a universal deorbiting service that can be applied to multiple satellites. A single servicer can service multiple satellites throughout its operational life, amortizing the propellant cost across multiple missions rather than requiring each satellite to carry its own dedicated deorbit propellant.
3Reliability
If active deorbiting is performed to ensure collision avoidance, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The servicer spacecraft autonomously performs the deorbiting maneuver after capturing the satellite. The servicer's robotic system automatically captures, secures, and executes the deorbiting burn without requiring continuous human intervention, reducing operational complexity while maintaining safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, cost-effective, and controlled satellite deorbiting, minimizing operational constraints and ensuring collision avoidance, with flexible options for varying satellite constellation needs.
Implementation Method 1
The servicer spacecraft includes a set of electric propulsion (EP) thrusters, a set of power processing units (PPUs), and ion propulsion propellant fuel capacity
Implementation Method 2
The servicer spacecraft includes ion propulsion propellant fuel capacity
Implementation Method 3
The auxiliary propellant module may be a high pressure storable propellant or an ion propulsion propellant module
Implementation Method 4
The auxiliary propellant module may be a high pressure storable propellant or an ion propulsion propellant module, such as a Kr propellant module
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for servicing a client spacecraft are provided. The client spacecraft is in a client spacecraft orbit. The method includes: providing (702) a servicer spacecraft in a servicer spacecraft operating orbit, wherein the servicer spacecraft is equipped to phase between orbital planes and to rendezvous with the client spacecraft; establishing (704) contact between the servicer spacecraft and the client spacecraft; performing (706) a servicing operation on the client spacecraft with the servicer spacecraft; and releasing (708) the client spacecraft from the servicer spacecraft.