1 of 22

Contextualization/Design Check-In

Group: sdmay25-09

Faculty Advisor: Rachel Shannon

​

1

2 of 22

Our Project

2

Our project is part of the COSMIC Space Consortium In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) design challenge. As a part of the challenge, we MUST generate an ISAM idea and then create a design that can perform three operations to perform an ISAM action.��Examples of ISAM:�-Assembling a satellite in space�-Manufacturing fiber optics�-Repairing satellites in orbit

-Railway for Materials

​

3 of 22

Choosing a ISAM Problem

​

Brainstorming

  • Refueling
  • Repairing
  • Upgrading
  • 3D-Printing in space
  • Removing Space Debris
  • Communication Constellations

�Satellite Deorbiting Service:

  • Removing Space Debris (defunct satellites)
  • Legal requirements for deorbiting 5 years after service

3

4 of 22

Users

�Researchers:

  • Concerned about Kessler Syndrome
  • Want to put research satellites into LEO

​

Corporate Industry 1:

  • Want to put new satellites in LEO
  • Have difficulties finding orbits due to traffic

​

Corporate Industry 2:

  • Need to meet legal requirements for retiring satellites
  • Choosing services to deorbit defunct satellites

4

5 of 22

Design Details

5

6 of 22

Net Launcher

�Problem:

Current in orbit debris removal methods using nets are only capable of launching one net to capture and deorbit debris (not effective solution)

​

Idea:

Develop a net launching satellite capable of storing multiple nets that can each deorbit a CubeSat satellite

​

Outcome:

The launcher will demonstrate at least 3 autonomous steps such as priming the net, launching the net, and securing the target CubeSat to then deorbit it

6

7 of 22

Net Launcher Process

7

8 of 22

Artifacts

8

9 of 22

Journey Map

Persona: NASA Engineer

  • Product Producer
  • Given Problem
    • High Importance
    • Kessler Syndrome Effect
  • Research
    • Time intensive
  • Prototype
  • Final Design

​

9

10 of 22

Pros/Cons

Advantages:

  • Multiple nets
  • Nets are relatively simple and cheap
  • Lightweight
  • Easy Storage

​

Disadvantages:

  • Target can become unwrapped from net if no securing mechanism
  • Storing multiple nets may reduce net size, less room for error

​

​

10

​

​

11 of 22

Design Impact

11

​

12 of 22

Contextualization of Design Impact

Human:

  • Risk of collisions to satellites by large scale debris is reduced
  • We can further reduce engineer anxiety by creating containment methods for smaller pieces of orbital debris not just CubeSats

​

Economic:

  • By providing a craft capable of multiple net deployments we can reduce the cost of debris removal
  • Companies will allocate less funds to satellite replacement

​

​

12

​

13 of 22

Technical Contextualization

Key design challenges include:

​

Internal Complexity:

  • Nearly or fully autonomous operation
  • Net priming, deployment, and securing target systems
  • Cycling mechanism within the device to load new nets after deployment

​

External Complexity:

  • Increased complexity having multiple nets
  • Positioning the craft to be in target range
  • Developing an optical array for the craft to see targets

​

13

​

14 of 22

Design Prototypes

14

15 of 22

Conclusions

14

16 of 22

Wrapping Up

  • The net launcher will target CubeSats for capture enabling retrieval or deorbiting
  • Nets have been used before for single-launch deorbiting, but the high cost deters investment in debris removal, leading companies to accept collision risks
  • Our team is still developing ideas for how to successfully deorbit a piece of debris once capture

14

17 of 22

Questions?

17

18 of 22

Bonus Slides

16

19 of 22

Solar Sail Removal

19

20 of 22

Our Satellite Platform

20

21 of 22

RemoveDebris Satellite

21

22 of 22

Launch Mechanism

22