gps based space debris removal system

1. ACHARYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
Dept Of ECE,AIT 1
GPS BASED SPACE DEBRIS
REMOVAL SYSTEM
BY: Zishan Ali
USN NO:1AY12EC118
GUIDED BY: Mr. SHAILESH M.L.

2. CONTENTS
1) Introduction
2)Types of orbits
3) Sources of debris
4) Tracking and Measurement of debris
5) Clearance of space debris
6) Gallery
7) Conclusion
8) References
Dept Of ECE,AIT
2

3. What is DEBRIS?
• RUBBLE, WRECKAGE, SCATTERED REMAINS
OF SOMETHING DESTROYED.
Dept Of ECE,AIT 3

4. INTRODUCTION
Dept Of ECE,AIT
3
Space debris, also known as orbital debris or space junk is the
collection of defunct objects in orbit around Earth.
This includes everything from spent rocket stages, old
satellites, fragments from disintegration , erosion and collision.
They can include anything from entire used rocket stages and
disfunctioning satellites to explosion fragments, paint flakes,
dust, slag from solid rocket motors, released coolant, nuclear
powered satellites, and other small particles from equipment.

5.  Debris possess a growing threat to satellites and could prevent
the use of valuable orbits in the future.
 The following table shows the estimated amount of debris
objects by their size:
Dept Of ECE,AIT
4

6. Orbital Debris Population

7. Dept Of ECE,AIT
5
Tracked orbital debris population catalogued by U.S. Air Force as of 2010.

8. TYPES OF ORBITS
1. Low Earth Orbit
2. Medium Earth Orbit
3. Geostationary Orbit
4. High Earth Orbit
Dept Of ECE,AIT 6

9.  LEO is comparatively very close to the Earth
Low Earth Orbit
 Low in altitude- 200 km to 1200 km.
 Less orbit times, hence higher velocities required to balance
the earth's gravitational field.
 Less energy is expended placing the satellites in LEO than
higher orbits.
 Communications satellites, Earth monitoring satellites use
LEO as they are able to see the surface of the Earth more clearly.
Dept Of ECE,AIT 7

10.  The International Space Station is in an LEO that varies
between 320 km and 400 km above the Earth's surface.
 Currently, NASA tracks more than 15,000 objects larger than
10 cm in LEO.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
8

11. Situated from 2000 km to 36,000 km
above Earth’s surface.
The most common use for satellites
in this region is for navigation , GPS
communication and space
environment science.
Has an orbital period of 12 hours .
Medium Earth Orbit
Dept Of ECE,AIT 9

12. Geostationary Earth Orbit
 These are at a height of 35790 km,
it takes 24 hours for the satellite to
orbit.
 Geostationary satellites have
modernized and transformed
worldwide communications,
television broadcasting, and
meteorological & weather
forecasting. They also have a
number of significant defense and
intelligence applications.
Dept Of ECE,AIT 10

13. Highly Elliptical Orbit
 These satellites do not follow a circular orbit, but its orbit is elliptical.
 Its orbital period is of 8 to 24 hours.
 The Perigee about 500 km and Apogee of 50,000 km.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
13
Fig. HEO

14. Tracking of debris
Dept Of ECE,AIT 14
 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.

15. 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.
Dept Of ECE,AIT 15

16. “CLEARANCE OF SPACE DEBRIS”
Dept Of ECE,AIT 16

17. Different Types
Dept Of ECE,AIT
17
 Electro dynamic tethers
 Space nets and collectors
 Laser brooms
 Solar sails

18. Electro-dynamic tethers
Dept Of ECE,AIT
18
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.

19. Space 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.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
19

20. Laser brooms
 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.
 Mainly the laser based techniques are two types:
1. Ground based laser technique
2. Space based laser technique
Dept Of ECE,AIT
20

21. Ground based laser
Space based laser
Dept Of ECE,AIT
21

22. 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 burnt
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.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
22

23. Collector satellites
 The most commonly used collector satellite is the Sling Sat.
 It has two extended arms which collect the debris as it is in
motion.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
23

24. Dept Of ECE,AIT 24
GALLERY
Saudi Arab deserts- 2001 Georgetown (Texas) 1997

25. Dept Of ECE,AIT 25
List of the top massy space debris falling on Earth

26. Dept Of ECE,AIT 26
Satellite re-entry blue-print

27. Dept Of ECE,AIT 27
Movie: Space Junk 3D (poster)

28. CONCLUSION
Satellite communication would develop faster as there will be
no hindrance to it. Every point on 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.
Dept Of ECE,AIT
28

29. 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.
[7] Space Junk 3D- Movie
[8] Donald Kessler (Kessler 1981), Sources of Orbital Debris and the Projected Environment
for Future Spacecraft
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris#To_Earth
[10] ww.nationalgeographic.com/search?espv=2&biw=1366&bih=599&tbm=isch&sa=1&
q=space+debris+damage&oq=space+debris+&gs_l
Dept Of ECE,AIT
29

30. Dept Of ECE,AIT
30

31. Dept Of ECE,AIT
31