• In the last 10 years, the number of satellites has grown 59%

from 819 to 1305, and revenues have risen 92% from $105.5

billion to $203 billion.

• Current space environment is overpopulated which leads to an

increase in collision risk

• FurtherresearchanddevelopmentisrequiredtobringelectromagneticdesignstoareasonableTRLforimplementation

• Furtherresearchintode-orbitingtechniquesandratesofmass-lossforaccuratede-orbiting

Design and Evaluation of an Orbital Debris Remediation SystemB. Noble, Y. Almanee, A. Shakir, S. Park

System Engineering & Operations Research, George Mason University

Context Method of AnalysisProblem / Need

Conceptual results:

>>Read in TLE data>>Read in parameters from DOE>>OUTPUT:>>Deploy NET to remediate object 00011 at time 0>>Deploy NET to remediate object 01584 at time 543>>Deploy NET to remediate object 01314 at time 674>>Deploy HARPOON to remediate object 04964 at time 721>>etc…

These results feed into our utility analysis and value hierarchy

Recommendations

• Post Mission Disposal (PMD) alone is not sufficient to control debris environment; remediation will be necessary.

• In order to maintain a sustainable space environment, there is a need to remediated at least 5 high-risk object per year

Design Alternatives

Utility vs Life Cycle Costs

Result I Result II

Design: Utility/Cost:

ThrowNet 5.74

Harpoon 61.79

EDDE 0.45

Design: Utility/Cost:

Inflatables 0.55

Propulsion 4.66

EDDE 0.45

Infl.+Prop. 1.20

1. Launch and Rendezvous: Convert TLE data to state vectors.

2. Grapple: Takes in metrics and outputs objects score.

3. De-tumble: Debris will cease rotation.

4. De-orbit: Time to de-orbit decreases as is increases

1.Launchand2.Rendezvous Designs

Name: Stage: Mass (kg): CosttoLEO($/kg):

Delta IV 1 6,747 $13,0722 301

Atlas V 1 5,479 $13,1822 166

Falcon 9 1 418,100 $4,1092 96,570

CONOPSStep: DesignAlternatives:1. Launch Chemical Propulsion

2. Rendezvous Electric PropulsionChemical Propulsion

3. Grapple

Robotic ArmThrow NetHarpoonCOBRA IRIDES

4. De-tumble Electric PropulsionChemical Propulsion

5. De-orbit

EDDEInflatablesElectric PropulsionChemical PropulsionElectromagnetic

3.GrappleDesigns

Name: TRL:Mass (kg):

Target Mass (kg):

Robotic Arm 6 80 7000Throw Net 5 60 10000Harpoon 4 9.3 9000COBRA IRIDES 3 140 150EDDE 2 76 8300

5.De-orbitDesigns

Name: Description:Mass (kg):

EDDE Systemofelectrodynamic tethers 80

Inflatables Add foamtodebris toincreasesurfacearea 1000

Propulsion Modify thealtitude 314DeltaIV Harpoon

EDDE

Design: Recommended: Cost:

Launch and Rendezvous Falcon 9 $61.2M

Grapple Harpoon $7.96M

De-orbit Propulsion + Inflatables $40M

Total $109.16M

Value Hierarchy

Throw Net Weight Value

Attribute

s

Performance 0.47 7.01545Object Scores 0.86 8.1575Delta-V Cost 0.14 0

Risk 0.19 2.128Safety 0.80 2.24Reliability 0.20 1.68

TRL 0.14 5Political Viability 0.20 2.154

Agreeability 0.86 1.65Verifiability 0.14 5.25

Utility 4.8312356

Harpoon Weight Likely

Attribute

s

Performance 0.47 8.3463Object Scores 0.86 9.705Delta-V Cost 0.14 0

Risk 0.19 1.52Safety 0.80 1.6Reliability 0.20 1.2

TRL 0.14 4Political Viability 0.20 0.735

Agreeability 0.86 0Verifiability 0.14 5.25

Utility 4.918349417

Business Case

• 385satelliteownersoperatingover1200satellites

• Thegoalistocapture36%ofthismarketoverthenext20years

• Pessimisticestimateof13%

• Optimisticestimateof99%

Duration Pessimistic Expected Optimistic Stock Market

5 years -79% 29% 354% 128%

10 years 88% 484% 1675% 163%

15 years 389% 1255% 3852% 208%

MarketSize

ReturnonInvestment

SCAN for further details