Abstract
Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) is a promised debris deorbit device which is developed by JAXA. However the way of approaching and connecting it to debris is not established. This paper describes a novel capture mechanism for an used rocket. This mechanism is composed with a flexible tether part and a rigid fixation mechanism part. The fixation mechanism part is like a belt and has many hinges and joints with torsion springs and passively expands when it bumps to the debris and twines around the body of the rocket. The fixation mechanism part is very light and simple, but exhibits great ability to keep holding because of friction between the target and the surface of the hinges. This paper shows the result of experiments about the ability of tension loading endurance of the mechanism in a microgravity using a small bread-board model of the capture mechanism and a rocket model.
