Authors : Andrey A. Baranov, Dmitriy A. Grishko and Danhe Chen
Abstract: The study focuses on analysis of mass and energy parameters of an advanced SV-collector (SV) designed for fly-pasts between Large-Size Space Debris (LSSD) in low orbits with the aim at their de-orbiting. De-orbiting is supposed to be carried out using Thruster De-orbiting Kits (TDK) installed onboard the SV-collector. The SV and TDKs dry masses are estimated as well as the masses of LSSD objects to be de-orbited with the help of TDKs, the required fuel reserves for TDKs and SV are estimated, the optimal number of TDKs per one SV is evaluated. Earlier the authors of the present study determined 5 compact groups of LSSD in low orbits formed by launch vehicle stages. From the known mass of such objects it is possible to assess the fuel mass required to de-orbit any object of a given group to a disposal orbit. The dry mass of an active SV can be estimated from the mass characteristics of a modern cargo space vehicle. To assess the required fuel reserves of an SV it is necessary to simulate SV�s fly-bys between objects of a concrete group of LSSD. Simulation results show that it is expedient to accommodate 8-12 TDKs on one SV, the total initial mass of an SV is estimated to be 7-8 metric tons (at most 10 tons in the limit case).
Andrey A. Baranov, Dmitriy A. Grishko and Danhe Chen, 2019. Fuel and Energy Analysis of a Space Vehicle Aimed at De-orbiting Large-size Objects from Low Orbits Using Thruster De-orbiting Kits. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14: 1312-1317.