From Design to Deorbit: A Solar-Electric Autonomous Module for Multi-Debris Remediation

TL;DR

This paper presents a solar-powered autonomous module capable of capturing and deorbiting space debris, validated through simulations showing effective navigation, data transmission, and significant advancements in sustainable orbital debris removal.

Contribution

Introduces a novel solar-electric remediation architecture combining mechanical capture, high-efficiency propulsion, and autonomous navigation for space debris removal.

Findings

Successful deorbit from 800 km to 100 km altitude

Navigation accuracy with <10m RMSE using radar EKF

93% data delivery efficiency within 1 second

Abstract

The escalating accumulation of orbital debris threatens the sustainability of space operations, necessitating active removal solutions that overcome the limitations of current fuel-dependent methods. To address this, this study introduces a novel remediation architecture that integrates a mechanical clamping system for secure capture with a high-efficiency, solar-powered NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) and autonomous navigation protocols. High-fidelity simulations validate the architecture's capabilities, demonstrating a successful retrograde deorbit from 800 km to 100 km, <10m position Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) via radar-based Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) navigation, and a 93\% data delivery efficiency within 1 second using Delay/Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) protocols. This approach significantly advances orbital management by establishing a benchmark for renewable solar propulsion that minimizes reliance on conventional fuels and extends mission longevity for multi-target removal.