Guidance, Control and Docking for CubeSat-based Active Debris Removal

Ben-Larbi, Mohamed Khalil

• Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9783736978485
• eBook ISBN: 9783736968486
• Edition: 1

While a paradigm shift in space industry has already started involving "mass production" of higher standardized, large distributed systems such as constellations, there are no effective solutions existing for the "mass removal" of satellites. Many indicators point to a further increase in the space traffic in Earth orbit in the near future, which could imply new dynamics in the evolution of the space debris environment. Even in case of diligent compliance with the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) mitigation guidelines, the growth in space traffic complicates its management and drastically increases the probability of accidents and system failures. NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler proposed a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade that renders space unusable for many generations. Therefore, a reliable and affordable capability of removing or servicing non-functional objects is essential to guarantee sustainable access to Earth orbit. Recently, the CubeSat design standard introduced a new class of cost-efficient small spacecraft and thereby offers a potential solution to the active debris removal (ADR) problem. The development of a novel "CubeSat-compatible" ADR technology has significant advantages such as the use of commercial off-the-shelf parts, reduced launch cost, and reduced design efforts.This thesis presents –in the frame of an ADR mission– an approach to advanced rendezvous and docking with non-cooperative targets via CubeSat. It covers the design process of simulation systems used for verification purposes, the ideation and implementation of novel guidance, control, and docking techniques, as well as their verification and evaluation. The outcome of this research is a series of validated software tools, processes, technical devices, and algorithms for automated approach and docking, that have been tested in simulation and with prototype hardware.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Abstract
• Kurzzusammenfassung
• Nomenclature
• Acronyms
• Symbols
• 1 Introduction
• 1.1 Motivation
• 1.2 State of the art
• 1.3 Objectives and Thesis Approach
• 2 Technical Challenges for CubeSat basedADR
• 2.1 Current and Future Space Debris Challenges
• 2.2 Prioritization of potential targets for ADR
• 2.3 The Evolution of CubeSat
• 3 Concept of Operations for CubeSat basedADR
• 3.1 Mission objectives and design drivers
• 3.2 Mission and system analysis
• 4 Spacecraft Relative Motion Modeling
• 4.1 Theoretical background
• 4.2 Dynamics of relative motion
• 4.3 Final Comments
• 5 Modeling and simulation methodology
• 5.1 Adopted modeling and simulation approach
• 5.2 Simulation environments description
• 6 Design and Qualification of an Active AirBearing Table
• 6.1 State of the art of air bearing based dynamic simulators
• 6.2 ELISSA requirements and design
• 6.3 ELISSA Characterization and Qualification Testing
• 7 Low-Thrust Guidance Strategy
• 7.1 Relative motion guidance formulation
• 7.2 Impulsive thrust maneuver design
• 7.3 Finite-duration thrust maneuver design
• 7.4 Proposed guidance schemes
• 7.5 Simulation Results
• 8 Feedback Linearized Differential Drag Control
• 8.1 The concept of differential drag control
• 8.2 Control Design
• 8.3 Numerical Validation
• 9 Docking using Gecko-inspired Adhesives
• 9.1 Bio-inspired micropatterned dry adhesives
• 9.2 Micropatterned dry adhesives for active debris removal
• 9.3 Docking mechanism design and technical equipment
• 9.4 Ground Testing
• 9.5 On-orbit testing
• 10 Conclusion and Outlook
• 10.1 Conclusions
• 10.2 Limitations and Outlook
• Bibliography
• A CubeSat Hardware
• B Additional Data for Guidance and Control
• C Additional Data for Docking