The Best Space Resource is the One You Can Catch and Reuse

From the beginning of space exploration more than 60 years ago, only a few in-orbit objects have been removed or reused. In fact, the Kessler Syndrome states that the number of space debris is growing exponentially [1], leaving unused uncooperative objects orbiting at high velocities at several altitudes, especially in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). In other words, the situation brings up two main critical issues: not only a non-sustainable space environment for satellite missions, with orbit saturation, but also the creation of an unsafe place for future human-related space exploration missions. Active Debris Removal is a possible solution for tackling the problem of space debris. Despite being extremely challenging, catching autonomously and harmlessly an uncooperative object tumbling at high velocity demands reliability, compliance and robustness. The fruitful collaboration between industry and academia (Spacety Luxembourg - SnT-SpaceR research group at the University of Luxembourg), is leading to the cutting-edge concept of a two-step capturing mechanism. A first ‘soft capture’ ensures that the debris is received softly while dampening any vibrations generated during the contact. Then, a ‘hard capture’ secures the debris so that it would be deorbited or safely shipped for other orbits or space stations for reuse. Capturing debris and decommissioned in-orbit objects for recycling or reusing can be the anchor of new opportunities in space and beyond. Most of the objects in orbit can have aluminum parts, besides other beneficial materials among their subsystems, such as solar panels, antennas or electronics which can be reused. To maximize space resources reusability, it is important to not harm the target. Capturing solutions such as harpoons or rigid interfaces can cause damage to the targets, resulting in hardly exploitable resources, and even more smaller debris tumbling in orbit [2]. An application of the proposed capturing technology would be to collect defunct satellites and debris, thus contributing to a more sustainable environment in space, gathering those on a possible recycling orbit or to any future Space Station for recycling. References [1] Drmola J. and Hubik T., Kessler Syndrome: System Dynamics Model (2018), In-Space Policy, 44–45, 29–39 [2] Zhao P., Liu J. and Wu C., Survey on Research and Development of On-Orbit Active Debris Removal Methods (2020), Sci China Tech Sci, 63: 2188–221