Sustainability in Space sector
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) missions are planned in the coming years are rapidly increasing, accumulation of space debris which will increase and pose a threat to future space missions.
This article explains the status of current situation and relationship to UN SDG goals.
PROBLEM
To date, there is no available technology that can combat this problem by actively removing space debris in an economically viable way, so there is incentive for further study in this field.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
In one of my recent group researches, the feasibility of a space mission aiming on removing 6 debris in LEO within a year was studied, where the number requirement came from the least number to maintain balance of total debris in space.
METHODS
Numerous and diverse active debris removal (ADR) methods have been proposed in recent years, for example the use of
- Bi-directional plasma thrusters,
- Net capturing systems and
- Laser satellites.
- Drag sails
EFFECTIVE METHOD
Considering both cost and simplicity, a method of using drag sails to increase the atmospheric drag acting on the debris was selected to reduce the debris lifetime to about 16 years
Sails are folded in an origami style to save space, and are delivered by a satellite of about 150kg in mass and 1m³ in size.
Manoeuvres among orbits cost 156m/s in total, which is provided by a S10–18 propulsion system.
The entire mission duration, including all manoeuvres and the docking process, is 50 days.
The satellite will be delivered to a circular orbit with identical inclination as the first targeted debris and a radius equal to its perigee. This will be done by a 4 stage Vega Rocket launched from the European Space Center in Kourou, French Guyana.
The mission cost was estimated to an amount of 120 million in Euro, and most technologies used in the planned mission have high technical readiness levels at 9.
Environmental impact was minimised by selecting the drag sail method that required less propellant and has less mission time.
Overall, the mission proved to be credible and feasible in cost, technical and environmental impact aspects. The purpose for this is to contribute to the growing effort of reducing space debris to make future space endeavours safer.
UN SDG and SPACE
UN SDG, satellites can contribute to the achievement of a sustainable future by providing global positioning information, help to prevent and mitigate natural disasters, as well as connecting the world broadband services. It can also be said that satellites provide a system for collecting Earth data and enable monitoring of the globe.
NASA Earth Observatory uses satellites to observe animal populations and environmental changes.
Copernicus — Sentinel , an European union satellite is helping on different sectors including Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme
About Author
JingYang is a sustainability business manager focusing on space tech in BøthOfUs AB, Sweden. She is a space engineer specialised in research on space sector.
About Company
We are happy to announce that we are focusing towards sustainability in space sector along with our existing focus on sustainability in land and water.
The first set of projects we will be focusing on is using technology for major problems such as effects of humans in space and also on space debris.
BøthOfUs , Sweden was started in 2017 with the goal of working in UN SDG goals by creating tech and design solutions by collaborating with social impact entrepreneurs.
For more info : https://www.bothofus.se/
If you have ideas on space sector and need help with tech and design or investment in space tech or consortium on space projects
Contact : info@bothofus.se
