Space Traffic Coordination for Debris Removal Through Mega-Constellations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of a framework for mega-constellation business operators to ensure flight safety by avoiding collisions, particularly during unsteady operations such as orbit insertion and orbital disposal, which may lead to insufficient collision avoidance measures.
Innovation Solution
A space traffic management system with debris removal business devices and mega-constellation business devices connected via a communication line, enabling real-time acquisition of high-accuracy orbital information to ensure safe passage through satellite groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mega-constellation business operators operate independently without a unified framework, then operational flexibility is maintained, but collision avoidance capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a space traffic management device as an intermediary system that operates between mega-constellation business devices. This intermediary facilitates collision avoidance by collecting orbital information from multiple mega-constellations, performing conflict detection, and coordinating avoidance maneuvers without requiring direct integration between all operators. The intermediary manages the complexity of multi-operator coordination while maintaining each operator's operational independence.
2Reliability
If real-time high-accuracy orbital information is acquired from multiple mega-constellations, then flight safety is improved, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information processing function by having each mega-constellation business device provide orbital information for its own satellites, while the space traffic management device aggregates and processes this information centrally. This segmentation allows each operator to maintain accurate real-time orbital data for their constellation while distributing the processing burden, reducing the complexity burden on any single system.
3Reliability
If collision avoidance operations are implemented during unsteady operation stages, then flight safety is improved, but operational disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary conflict detection and avoidance planning during unsteady operation stages such as orbit insertion and orbital disposal. The space traffic management device proactively identifies potential conflicts between debris removal satellites and mega-constellation satellites before collisions occur, enabling preventive maneuvers that ensure flight safety while minimizing operational disruption through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
In a space traffic management system (500), space traffic management devices (100) individually mounted in a plurality of mega-constellation business devices and in a debris removal business device (45) are connected to each other via a communication line (200). The debris removal device (45) performs Active Debris Removal (ADR) against debris formed by a satellite managed by a first mega-constellation business operator. The debris removal device (45) acquires real-time high-accuracy orbital information of a satellite group of a second mega-constellation business operator in a timeframe in which a debris removal satellite, during orbital descent, passes through an orbital altitude region where the satellite group of the second mega-constellation flies, the debris removal satellite passing through the satellite group while ensuring flight safety.