• In the last 10 years, the number of satellites has grown 59%
from 819 to 1305, and revenues have risen 92% from $105.5
billion to $203 billion.
• Current space environment is overpopulated which leads to an
increase in collision risk
• FurtherresearchanddevelopmentisrequiredtobringelectromagneticdesignstoareasonableTRLforimplementation
• Furtherresearchintode-orbitingtechniquesandratesofmass-lossforaccuratede-orbiting
Design and Evaluation of an Orbital Debris Remediation SystemB. Noble, Y. Almanee, A. Shakir, S. Park
System Engineering & Operations Research, George Mason University
Context Method of AnalysisProblem / Need
Conceptual results:
>>Read in TLE data>>Read in parameters from DOE>>OUTPUT:>>Deploy NET to remediate object 00011 at time 0>>Deploy NET to remediate object 01584 at time 543>>Deploy NET to remediate object 01314 at time 674>>Deploy HARPOON to remediate object 04964 at time 721>>etc…
These results feed into our utility analysis and value hierarchy
Recommendations
• Post Mission Disposal (PMD) alone is not sufficient to control debris environment; remediation will be necessary.
• In order to maintain a sustainable space environment, there is a need to remediated at least 5 high-risk object per year
Design Alternatives
Utility vs Life Cycle Costs
Result I Result II
Design: Utility/Cost:
ThrowNet 5.74
Harpoon 61.79
EDDE 0.45
Design: Utility/Cost:
Inflatables 0.55
Propulsion 4.66
EDDE 0.45
Infl.+Prop. 1.20
1. Launch and Rendezvous: Convert TLE data to state vectors.
2. Grapple: Takes in metrics and outputs objects score.
3. De-tumble: Debris will cease rotation.
4. De-orbit: Time to de-orbit decreases as is increases
1.Launchand2.Rendezvous Designs
Name: Stage: Mass (kg): CosttoLEO($/kg):
Delta IV 1 6,747 $13,0722 301
Atlas V 1 5,479 $13,1822 166
Falcon 9 1 418,100 $4,1092 96,570
CONOPSStep: DesignAlternatives:1. Launch Chemical Propulsion
2. Rendezvous Electric PropulsionChemical Propulsion
3. Grapple
Robotic ArmThrow NetHarpoonCOBRA IRIDES
4. De-tumble Electric PropulsionChemical Propulsion
5. De-orbit
EDDEInflatablesElectric PropulsionChemical PropulsionElectromagnetic
3.GrappleDesigns
Name: TRL:Mass (kg):
Target Mass (kg):
Robotic Arm 6 80 7000Throw Net 5 60 10000Harpoon 4 9.3 9000COBRA IRIDES 3 140 150EDDE 2 76 8300
5.De-orbitDesigns
Name: Description:Mass (kg):
EDDE Systemofelectrodynamic tethers 80
Inflatables Add foamtodebris toincreasesurfacearea 1000
Propulsion Modify thealtitude 314DeltaIV Harpoon
EDDE
Design: Recommended: Cost:
Launch and Rendezvous Falcon 9 $61.2M
Grapple Harpoon $7.96M
De-orbit Propulsion + Inflatables $40M
Total $109.16M
Value Hierarchy
Throw Net Weight Value
Attribute
s
Performance 0.47 7.01545Object Scores 0.86 8.1575Delta-V Cost 0.14 0
Risk 0.19 2.128Safety 0.80 2.24Reliability 0.20 1.68
TRL 0.14 5Political Viability 0.20 2.154
Agreeability 0.86 1.65Verifiability 0.14 5.25
Utility 4.8312356
Harpoon Weight Likely
Attribute
s
Performance 0.47 8.3463Object Scores 0.86 9.705Delta-V Cost 0.14 0
Risk 0.19 1.52Safety 0.80 1.6Reliability 0.20 1.2
TRL 0.14 4Political Viability 0.20 0.735
Agreeability 0.86 0Verifiability 0.14 5.25
Utility 4.918349417
Business Case
• 385satelliteownersoperatingover1200satellites
• Thegoalistocapture36%ofthismarketoverthenext20years
• Pessimisticestimateof13%
• Optimisticestimateof99%
Duration Pessimistic Expected Optimistic Stock Market
5 years -79% 29% 354% 128%
10 years 88% 484% 1675% 163%
15 years 389% 1255% 3852% 208%
MarketSize
ReturnonInvestment
SCAN for further details
