Low-Cost CubeSat for Active Removal of Sizable Space Debris Utilizing a Mothership Architecture

Turion Space Corp. proposes developing a CubeSat-based debris remediation strategy, whereby several "Deorbiter" CubeSats are deployed from a carrier spacecraft to remove multiple debris objects from LEO (600-1500km) in a single mission. The system's mothership will be a scaled adaptation of Turion's DROID platform, currently undergoing development for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) applications. The DROID mothership will be equipped with a gridded ion thrust to ensure maximum ∆V, an RPO computer vision system and CubeSat deployer. The Deorbiters will be designed based on an 8-12U form factor and emphasize commercial-off-the-shelf components with flight heritage to accelerate development timelines, scale production, and lower the Deorbiter unit costs with economies of scale. If a Deorbiter does not have sufficient ∆V to deorbit a debris object, multiple can be deployed and used on the same object, enabling the architecture to scale to larger debris, higher energy orbits, and reduced deorbit timeframes. In addition, each Deorbiter will operate independently of the mothership and, if issues arise, can deorbit itself to avoid creating additional debris. The architecture does not require additional hardware on the target object, such as docking adapters or communication systems. In addition, alternative state-of-the-art ADR methods such as throw nets, space-based lasers, the ion-beam shepherd, electrodynamic tethers, and robotic arms have drawbacks due to highly complex system dynamics and increased risk of further debris generation. The proposed mission architecture maximizes commercial utility because the mothership will collect SSA data when not performing the debris removal missions, and the Deorbiter system can be used for multiple commercial applications such as life extension.

NASA benefits: The proposed Low-Cost CubeSat for Active Removal of Sizable Debris Utilizing a Mothership Architecture will address critical ADR needs for NASA by deorbiting non-operational US government owned space objects. The proposed employment of the multi-use capabilities of the mothership and Deorbiter CubeSats have the potential to enable ADR to become a viable and sustainable part of the growing space economy, reducing the fiscal burden on NASA for development and deploying this technology. Non-NASA benefits: The proposed Low-Cost CubeSat for Active Removal of Sizable Debris Utilizing a Mothership Architecture maximizes commercial utility because the mothership will collect SSA data when not performing debris removal missions, and the Deorbiter can be used for multiple applications such as life extension and orbit relocation, eventually ranging beyond LEO to MEO and GEO. However, if Deorbiter CubeSats are not utilizing mothership deployer slots, last-mile orbit delivery for commercial CubeSat customers can be performed.

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