SPACE DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM LEO - CONTROLLED RE-ENTRY USING AN OTV / SPACE-TUG VS. DE-ORBIT PACKS

摘要

Space-debris around Earth is becoming a more and more significant threat to the proper functioning of our satellites in orbit. To cope with this increasing problem, different strategies to enhance mission protection are being established by a European consortium composed in a multi-disciplinary manner, involving research organizations and academia on the one side and industrial companies and SME on the other. The work is being performed within the EC's 7th Framework Programme as a collaborative project in the activity "Strengthening of space foundations" called P2ROTECT (Prediction, Protection & Reduction of Orbital Exposure Collision Threats). As for debris with certain characteristics like size, mass or the presence of poisonous or hazardous materials an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere is not acceptable, the controlled re-entry by active de-orbiting means is mandatory at least for objects in the LEO. Within this paper, based on the current understanding of methods to remove debris actively from space, the current work will be presented in the following fields.