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

2026-01-19

AI Summary

This study addresses the growing threat of orbital debris to space sustainability by proposing a novel multi-target removal architecture that overcomes the lifetime and efficiency limitations of conventional fuel-dependent approaches. The system integrates mechanical gripper-based capture, solar-powered NASA NEXT ion thrusters, radar-aided autonomous navigation via an extended Kalman filter (EKF), and Delay/Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN) for communications. By uniquely combining renewable electric propulsion with autonomous navigation, the design significantly reduces reliance on chemical propellants and extends mission duration. High-fidelity simulations demonstrate efficient retrograde deorbiting from 800 km to 100 km altitude, achieving a positioning root-mean-square error (RMSE) below 10 meters and 93% DTN communication transmission efficiency within one second.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Multi-Robot Systems
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

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.

Problem

• orbital debris
• active debris removal
• space sustainability
• fuel-dependent methods
• multi-debris remediation

Innovation

• solar-electric propulsion
• autonomous navigation
• orbital debris remediation
• mechanical capture
• Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN)