Modelling of deployable cable nets for active space debris removal

Space debris represents a true risk for current and future activities in the circumterrestrial space, and remediation activities must be set out to guarantee the access to space in the future. For active debris removal, the development of an effective capturing mechanism remains an open issue. Among several proposals, cable nets are light, easily packable, scalable, and versatile. Nonetheless, guidance, navigation, and control aspects are especially critical in both the capture and post-capture phases. We present a finite element model of a deployable cable net. We consider a lumped mass/cable net system taking into account non-linearities arising both from large displacements and deformations, and from the different response of cables when subject to tension and compression. The problem is stated by using the nodal coordinates as Lagrangian coordinates. Lastly, the nonlinear governing equations of the system are obtained in a form ready for numerical integration.