Open AccessStudy on launch scheme of space-net capturing system
Author(s) -
Qingyu Gao,
Qingbin Zhang,
Zhiwei Feng,
Ting Qian
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0183770
Subject(s) - space debris , net (polyhedron) , aerospace engineering , computer science , traction (geology) , scheme (mathematics) , point (geometry) , simulation , finite element method , physics , engineering , mechanical engineering , mathematics , geometry , spacecraft , mathematical analysis , thermodynamics
With the continuous progress in active debris-removal technology, scientists are increasingly concerned about the concept of space-net capturing system. The space-net capturing system is a long-range-launch flexible capture system, which has great potential to capture non-cooperative targets such as inactive satellites and upper stages. In this work, the launch scheme is studied by experiment and simulation, including two-step ejection and multi-point-traction analyses. The numerical model of the tether/net is based on finite element method and is verified by full-scale ground experiment. The results of the ground experiment and numerical simulation show that the two-step ejection and six-point traction scheme of the space-net system is superior to the traditional one-step ejection and four-point traction launch scheme.