SPACE DEBRIS

MANAGEMENT
PROJECT SUBMISSION FOR AXIS ’20 :-SPACE
INNOVATION CHALLENGE

TEAM MEMBERS:
1. SHANTANU DESHMUKH, CLASS 11
2. VED NARSEKAR , CLASS 11
3. YASH BHISIKAR, CLASS 11

INSTITUTE: ICAD SCHOOL OF LEARNING, TILAK

NAGAR, NAGPUR
PART – I STATION GAUSS
 • Principle
A mass driver is basically a coil gun, used as a method of electromagnetic propulsion.
Quoting Wikipedia,
"Mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential
firing of a row of electromagnets accelerates the payload along a path. After leaving the path,
the payload continues to move due to momentum."
The method of propulsion used for the mass driver station will be similar to an Electrodynamic
Tether, only using large coils of the mass driver itself instead of wires.

• Structure
This mass driver will be in the form of
a space station that will contain large
tube-like structure along its length
which is the coil of the mass driver.
The ring will have two smaller
attachments, one for the habitation
modules for the crew, and other for
the large battery banks, electronics
and solar panels.

Figure 1 : Artist's concept of Station Gauss

• Working
The larger sized debris (monitor sized to defunct satellites) will
be routed into the mass driver's orbit by tug modules, which will
then be decelerated by the mass driver to very low earth orbit
(VLEO), which result in rapid decay of orbit.

This will increase the velocity of Station Gauss due to

conservation of momentum. This increase in the kinetic energy
will be converted into electrical energy by the coils in the mass
driver, in ways similar to the technologies used in the already
proven electrodynamic tethers (EDTs). This will also eliminate the
need for constant orbital correction.

In supplement to this energy, Station Gauss will also be Figure 2 : Working of an EDT
powered by an array of solar panels, meaning it will not need constant fuel supplies
launched from earth.
The propulsion system mentioned in the above paragraphs works using the earth's
magnetic field. The coils of the mass driver can break into multiple semi-circular
wires, which can convert translational kinetic energy to electric or vice versa.

Figure 3 : Station Gauss's coils

Target Objects
This method targets objects sized from a monitor to defective satellites. Smaller
objects can also be eliminated using this method, but it would require them to be
collected into larger ferromagnetic containers for tracking and higher efficiency.

Orbital Placement
This station would be placed in equatorial LEO,
since it contains the maximum density of debris.
This would make it easier for the tugs to align the
debris.
The station can then be moved to orbits with varying
inclinations, to clean up the debris present in them.
Figure 4 : Low Earth Orbit

Efficiency
This method is highly efficient, because it uses the potential energy of the
projectile itself, along with some solar energy compensating for the losses. This
method does not use chemical rockets except for the initial setup, and thus does
not require refueling or any other repetitive supplies from earth, except for
regular maintenance.

Advantages
• High efficiency
• Sustainable (no chemical rockets, no nuclear power)
• Setup and maintenance only, no supplies
• Scalable - Multiple stations in various orbits for more debris clearance
• Feasible with current or very near future tech
PART - II THE ICARUS PROJECT
 • Introduction
This project aims to eliminate the orbital debris which are too small (and fast) to be
deflected by the Station Gauss or be tracked by the current tracking systems. These are
usually of sizes less than 10 cm, constituting 0.05% by mass and 99.5% of the total
debris.

Figure 1: Orbital Debris Distribution

Such debris particles are released from spacecraft or rocket bodies with virtually no
initial ejection velocities and thus initially share nearly identical orbits with their parent
object. This project intends to solve this problem by vaporizing this extremely small-
sized debris, by taking advantage of the decreased melting and boiling points of their
constituent materials in vacuum. This is further facilitated by the solar wind
phenomena, which drives their low density vapor particles out of the orbit into the
interplanetary space.
• Concept and Principle
As previously stated, the Icarus Project aims to tackle this problem using simple laws of
thermodynamics and optics, keeping in mind the efficiency and feasibility required for
the task. For this purpose, we propose to use a hexagonal lens array to concentrate the
sun rays over a very small area (approximately a circular region of radius 10cm) and
place them in high density orbits of the debris. Compositional analysis of the small-
sized debris shows that aluminum particles and their oxides (BP in vacuum 800°C)
expelled from solid rocket motor, paint flecks (BP in vacuum 242°C), carbonaceous
meteoroids composed of volatile organic compounds and water (BP < 250°C), frozen
coolants, and iron (BP in vacuum 500°C) can be easily vaporized, and ionized to a small
extent by the lens array, creating the necessary threshold energy conditions.
To avoid the shot-noise disturbances in communication transmissions caused by these
vapors, Project Icarus takes advantage of the solar wind phenomena. These vapors can
now be dragged away to the interplanetary space by the solar wind (which normally
reaches speeds of 250-750 km/s) and some of which will be trapped as ionized
molecules in the Van Allen radiation belt or would get enough energy to escape Earth’s
gravitational influence. In this manner, the previously untraceable and dangerous small
sized debris can be removed without any actual contact with it, thus minimizing the risk
of damage by the debris to the spacecraft itself.
• Mathematical calculations to illustrate working of the project
i. Considering sample of max m =0.5Kgs comprising of iron alloys of max 10cm in
diameter;
Solar constant = 0.1388 ×10⁴ watt/m²
Estimated Area of the lens system optimally required=15.645 m²
Energy incident /sec = 21715.26J
ii. Graveyard orbit (considering max density of orbital debris)

Radius = 42,464.14 km Orbital velocity = 3.06378 km/sec

Time period = 24 hours: 11 mins: 25.22 sec
iii. Orbital placement of ICARUS ORBITER ARRAY:

Placing 10 km above the graveyard orbit(at 42474.14 km) for minimizing the
chance of encountering any debris.

Orbital velocity = 3.06342 km /sec Time period = 24 hours :11min :55.98 sec

iv. Hence relative velocity of ICARUS ORBITER ARRAY = 0.00036124 Km/sec

=0.3612 m /sec
Such a low value of relative velocity ensures that the heating effect is enhanced
by increasing the ease of focusing the rays.
Hence taking advantages of relative orbital motion, max. time of encounter which
allows maximum heat and radiation transfer =30.7 sec

v. Energy transferred in 30.7 sec = 666,658.482 J

Considering 50% efficiency , (Q)= 333,329.241 J
Applying equation Q =ms ΔT, S(Fe) =448 J/°C Kg
ΔT = 1488.07°C

vi. Average material temperature in day orbit = 127 °C. Therefore covering the
sublimation points of almost all material debris, any object less than 10 cm
diameter can be terminated. Hence the objective to vaporize sublime, the iron
 sample and similar small untraceable space debris, is illustrated and proved
mathematically.

• Structure and Working

Figure 2: Illustration of the Lens System Figure 3: Working of Fresnel lens

The Icarus orbiter will carry a system of compound converging lens and a circular
Fresnel lens. The purpose of using Fresnel lens is to make the incident sun rays on the
primary hexagonal lens array parallel to the compound lens axis, thereby increasing
focusing efficiency. The array consists of 7 hexagonal converging lenses of side length
1.8m, each coming with a motor mechanism to adjust the relative inclination with the
array, combined with rotation to allow the array face the sun for the maximum possible
time. The concentrated rays will be further made incident onto a secondary movable
lens placed at a convenient distance from it to adjust the effective distance at which the
sun rays are focused. These focused sunrays, when incident on the debris, heat it to the
temperatures where it will sublime. This is supported by the fact that most solids easily
sublime in vacuum. To enhance and speed up the task, multiple orbiters will be
deployed in the orbit.
The orbiters will also be equipped with radio antennas which will allow transmissions
with the command centre and also help to detect any orbital debris in its path, thus
helping to avert the possibility of collision.
The material to be used in making the lenses is Borosilicate glass, which has been
chosen for its unique characteristics particularly useful for the task. Its refractive index
(1.51), high melting point (1648°C), low coefficient of thermal expansion (0.0000033 per
Kelvin) and durability makes Borosilicate glass ideal for the job.
 Figure 2: Artist's Conception of Icarus Orbiter.
High melting point ensures that the glass resists the high temperatures created due to
long exposure to the sunrays and their focusing, while a low coefficient of thermal
expansion ensures that the refractive properties of the glass does not change
drastically due to thermal expansion.
The Icarus orbiter takes advantage of the freely available and sustainable source of
energy, the sun, up to its maximum potential. Apart from using sunrays, and not any
other form of fuel, to vaporize the debris, the orbiter also uses sunlight to power itself.
Solar panels aboard the orbiter will be the primary source of energy; along with Nickel-
Cadmium batteries as emergency backup such as during malfunctioning of the panels
or eclipses (many current satellites use Ni-Cd batteries as energy backup).
• Advantages
1. The orbiter uses solar energy as the primary source of power
2. Besides, using sunrays, and not any combustible fuel, to vaporize the small-sized
debris, pollution of any sorts is minimized.
3. Use of commonly available materials helps in reducing overall cost
4. Using lenses allows the orbiter to function well at a distance from the debris
orbit, thus minimizing the risk of damage from the debris itself. This eventually
increases the orbiter’s expected lifespan as opposed to its lifespan when
functioning in the debris orbit.
5. The project intends to do this task using current and near future tech, thus
giving priority to address this problem in present times and not in a distant
future.
6. Instead of thrusters, the orbiter will use powerful motor drive gyroscopes for
orbit changing maneuvers in case of orbital decay.
 7. Use of hexagonal lens in the array increases the packing efficiency and reducing
launch cost.

➢Conclusion
Throughout the document, we have discussed different versatile methods to tackle
the problem of space debris. The concepts of Station Gauss and The Icarus Project
have been designed keeping in mind the current reaches of technology and intends
to solve this problem in present scenarios or near future, feasibly and sustainably.
Space debris poses a big threat for our space exploration missions, limiting our
boundaries. If we don’t address this problem, very soon humanity will be restricted
from exploring the heavens. And thus, this problem calls for a combined effort
through international collaborations.

“Space: the final frontier, where no man has gone before. We

humans are the voyagers of the universe, exploring strange new
worlds without any boundaries.”

REFERENCES:
For data and information, we have referred the following websites:

1. https://www.nap.edu
2. https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/
3. https://www.wikipedia.org/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com
5. https://keisan.casio.com

NOTE: The artist conceptions and illustrations are made by team members
themselves. Google SketchUp and Kerbal Space Program were used for the
designing.