This document presents a seminar on space debris given by Lokesh Parihar to Anurag Garg. It begins with an introduction defining space debris and its history. It then discusses the different types of orbits where debris can be found, such as low Earth orbit and geostationary orbit. The document outlines methods used to track and measure debris including radar, radio waves, and space telescopes. Potential methods to clear space debris are presented, including electrodynamic tethers, laser brooms, solar sails, space nets, and collector satellites. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of addressing the growing problem of space debris to enable continued development of space communication and exploration.

1. Govt. Engineering College Ajmer
Seminar Presentation
Submit to:
Anurag Garg
(Assistant Professor)
Submit by:
Lokesh Parihar
(15EEAEC048)

2. SPACE DEBRIS

3. CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. HISTORY
3. TYPES OF ORBITS
4. TRACKING & MEASUREMENT OF DEBRIS
5. CLEARANCE OF SPACE DEBRIS
6. CONCLUSION
7. REFERENCES

4. INTRODUCTION
Initially, the term space debris referred to the
natural debris found in the solar
system: asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
However, with the beginning of the NASA Orbital
Debris Program, the term also refers to the debris
(alt. space waste or space garbage) from the
mass of defunct, artificially created objects in
space, especially Earth orbit. These include
old satellites and spent rocket stages as well as the
fragments from their disintegration and collisions.

5. HISTORY OF SPACE DEBRIS

6. HISTORY OF SPACE DEBRIS

7. TYPES OF ORBITS
1. Low Earth Orbit
2. Medium Earth Orbit
3. Geostationary Earth Orbit
4. High Earth Orbit

8. TRACKING AND MEASUREMENT
• Radar and optical detectors such as LIDAR are the main tools used for tracking space debris.
• Radio waves have been recently used. These waves are transmitted into space and they
bounce off of space junk back to the origin that will detect and track the object.
• Ground based radar facilities and space telescopes are also used to track the debris.
• Returned hardware of space debris is a valuable source of information of the environment.
• Some of the modules used were :
• LDEF (Long duration exposure facility ) satellite
• EURECA ( European Retrievable carrier )
• STS-61 Endeavour
• STS-109 Columbia

9. CLEARANCE OF SPACE DEBRIS
• Electro Dynamic Tethers
• Laser Brooms
• Solar Sails
• Space Nets
• Collector Setellites

10. ELECTRO-DYNAMIC TETHER
• An electro-dynamic tether provides a
simple and reliable alternative to the
conventional rocket thrusters .
• It works on the basic principle of
Lorentz force and Fleming’s Left
hand rule .
• Magnetic force is exerted on a
current carrying wire in a direction
perpendicular to both the flow of
current and the magnetic field .

11. LASER BROOM
• The laser broom uses a powerful ground based laser to
ablate the front surface off of debris and thereby
produce a rocket like thrust that slows the object.
• With continued application the debris will eventually
decrease their altitude enough to become subject to
atmospheric drag.
• Additionally , the momentum of photons in the laser
beam could be used to impart thrust on the debris
directly.
• Mainly the laser based techniques are two types:
• Ground based laser technique
• Space based laser technique

12. SOLAR SAILS
• The Solar sails uses the pressure from sunlight
to navigate an object, just like a naval sail uses
wind.
• This way debris can be navigated out of orbit
and burn into the atmosphere.
• The only problem with the solar sail is that its
very hard to navigate the junk into the ocean
and hence might be pretty dangerous.

13. NETS
• Space nets or umbrellas are satellites which eject a huge net that ‘fishes’ or collects
the debris and is later disposed off into a graveyard orbit .

14. COLLECTOR SATELLITE
• The most commonly used collector satellite is the Sling Sat.
• It has two extended arms which collect the debris as it is in motion.

16. CONCLUSION
• Satellite communication would develop faster as there will be no hindrance to it.
Every point in the earth, even the poles could be linked via satellites.
Communication will be faster, better and cheaper. Exploring the outer space would
be easier and inter planetary communication will flourish.
• Even though this problem might look unimportant and is being neglected by people,
it is of great concern for the developments in space and technology. A part of the
International Space Station should be allocated for space debris removal and control
called as Debris removal station. This monitors the motion, size, and mass of the
debris and removes them using an appropriate method suitable for that particular
debris.

17. REFERENCES
[1] International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-10 November 2014 ISSN 2348-6848 Space
Debris Elimination Techniques.
[2] Robert Osiander and Paul Ostdiek, Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology.
[3] Marco M. Castronuovo, Active space debris removal-A preliminary mission analysis and design,
Acta Astronautica 69 (2011) 848-859.
[4] Carmen Pardini, Toshiya Hanada and Paula H Krisko, Benefits and risks of using
electrodynamic tethers to de-orbit spacecrafts, Acta Astronautica 64 (2009) 571-588.
[5] Robert P Hoyt and Robert L Forward, The Terminator Tether: Autonomous deorbit of LEO
spacecraft for space debris mitigation, AIAA- 00—0329.
[6] Holger Burkhardt, Martin Sippel, et, Evaluation of propulsion systems for satellite end-of-life
deorbiting, Germany, AIAA-2002—4208.