ReMoVE · Rendezvous Modelling Visiting and Enhancing

Rendezvous Modelling Visiting and Enhancing

The ReMoVE (Rendezvous Modelling Visiting and Enhancing) Action addresses the problem of removing from space the large faulty satellites that are polluting strategical terrestrial orbits. The increasing number of inactive spacecraft orbiting around Earth, in fact, affects the probability of satellite explosions and collisions, which foster the growth of debris belts. The scientific community has recognised active debris removal as a key activity to be performed. ReMoVE investigates to which extend a small, agile, and modular satellite platform can be used to rendezvous a passive Target. The game-changing approach is embedded in the Enhancing concept: the ReMoVE platform acts as a smart and independent additive sub-system, to recover the capability to perform de-orbiting manoeuvres. In the everyday life our society benefits and relies on several services that make use of satellites flying in terrestrial orbits. Hence, the presence of debris in space has a two-fold impact. First, the proper functioning of the satellites already in-orbit is endangered by possible collisions against these fragments. Second, the larger the debris population will become, the less the free space will remain available for new satellites for existing services or to set-up brand-new ones. Hence, the removal of large faulty satellites from the low Earth orbit region has a direct impact on the society. At the same time, since the ReMoVE Action focuses on the exploitation of low-cost small-size platforms, its outcomes pave the way to a future multi-player, distributed, and sustainable commitment to realise space debris removal. The ReMoVE Action develops through three main objectives: 1. Safe close-range rendezvous to a passive Target. 2. Modelling and estimation of the roto-translational Target's motion. 3 Multi-purpose system design of the ReMoVE platform. Based on the research carried out during the Action, the development of the ReMoVE small-size platform is technologically feasible. As for the relative GNC, which is a key sub-system for this kind of mission, the minimal sensors’ suite to enable far- to close-range navigation to a noncooperative targets has been identified. Moreover, specific algorithms have been developed to support the estimation of the relative navigation solution and the development of viable rendezvous trajectories. All these algorithms can be implemented on a spaceborne computer, to foster autonomy and therefore maximising the operational opportunities of ReMoVE.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union