Importance

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Abstract

A satellite for clearing debris from congested orbital paths includes an elongated body with first and second longitudinal ends that contain magnets in a bastion shape that attract metallic space debris in an indirect collection manner. The bastions are by design protected from collision damage from incoming debris that the satellite system collects during active debris removal missions. The elongated body defines a transverse direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. The elongated body further includes an exterior and defines an interior capsule. The satellite also includes a first magnet coupled to the first longitudinal end of the elongated body. One or both poles of the first magnet are oriented such that a first field is emitted from the first longitudinal end substantially along the longitudinal direction. The satellite additionally includes a power system having a battery and positioned within or partially within the interior capsule. The battery is recharged by a system of retractable, and therefore protectable, solar panels. A propulsion system of the satellite includes two or more boosters coupled to the exterior of the elongate body on both ends. The boosters are configured to orient the first longitudinal end such that the first field attracts a magnetic item of space debris. The boosters are used to lower the active debris removal satellite and use momentum to deorbit space debris. Likewise, the boosters are used to reachieve orbit or move away from Earth once the debris has been successfully deorbited, thus making the satellite system reusable for the satellite operator's next mission of choice.

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First Claim