A Flight Experiment of Electrodynamic Tether using a Small Satellite: as the First Step for Debris Removal

Abstract

The active removal of existing space debris is the one of the most proactive strategies available to suppress space debris growth. The Aerospace Research and Development Directorate, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is investigating an active space debris removal system that employs highly efficient electrodynamic tether (EDT) technology as its orbital transfer system. As the first step toward the realization of this debris removal system, an EDT flight experiment using a small satellite is planned to establish and demonstrate EDT technology, and to measure EDT characteristics such as electron emission and collection in the space plasma. In this paper, the results of precise numerical simulations for mission analysis arc presented, including available electric currents, orbital changes, tether stability and deployment dynamics, considering small satellite characteristics.