Limits of drag augmentation at spacecraft end-of-mission and a mitigation strategy
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Limits of drag augmentation a mitigation strategy
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42064-020-0092-7
at
spacecraft
end-of-mission
and
Emma Kerr, Malcolm Macdonald () University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK
ABSTRACT
KEYWORDS
An increasing number of objects are being launched into low-Earth orbit. Consequently,
drag augmentation
to avoid the possibility of future in-orbit collisions space object removal techniques are
volume
receiving attention. As one of the most developed techniques, drag augmentation is
area-time-product
increasingly being considered as an option for end-of-mission removal of objects from low-
space debris
Earth orbit. This paper highlights a common misconception around drag augmentation:
liability
although it can be used to reduce de-orbit time, when used inappropriately it can increase
Learned Hand formula
the volume swept by an object and, thus, increase the occurrence risk of collision with
calculus of negligence
another space object. Knowingly ignoring this increased risk of collisions could leave spacecraft operators, and consequently their responsible state party, open to liability
Research Article
risk. By investigating the volume swept and de-orbit lifetime, a strategy of delayed
Received: 6 April 2020
deployment is proposed as a compromise between reducing volume swept and time to
Accepted: 11 August 2020
de-orbit. However, this increases system complexity and, likely, cost.
© The Author(s) 2020
1
Introduction
In January 2007, China conducted a direct-ascent antisatellite test, destroying the 750 kg Chinese weather satellite FY-1C (COSPAR identification 1999-025A) at an altitude of 865 km using a kinetic kill vehicle traveling in the opposite direction [1]. Whilst not the first, nor most recent such test in space, the altitude was higher than prior Russian and US tests, and a more recent Indian test, creating a prolonged and dispersed debris cloud that has had a significant impact on the space debris environment in low-Earth orbit (LEO). In February 2009, the defunct Cosmos-2251 (COSPAR identification 1993-036A) and active Iridium-33 (COSPAR identification 1997-051C) satellites collided at an altitude of 789 km [2], the first observed hypervelocity collision between two artificial satellites, leading to further growth in the LEO debris population. These two events have significantly increased awareness of the challenge presented by space sustainability. Meanwhile, the number of spacecraft launched per year has recently and rapidly increased. This trend is a result of the increased use of standardized, small and micro-satellite, platforms such as the CubeSat [3, 4]. As [email protected]
such, the prudency of space debris mitigation standards and regulations means space actors are increasingly implementing end-of-mission disposal plans to be, and be seen as, responsible and sustainable actors. No international treaty exists to specifically deal with the issue of space debris. However, both the Outer Space Treaty and the Liability Convention address
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