Towards a Sustainable Approach to the Space Debris Problem

The entry of private assets into the space sector promises to offer a growing number of services, yet the expected increase in the number of space debris challenges the sustainability of space activities in low Earth orbits. The disposal of abandoned vehicles will be necessary to reduce the risk for operational satellites]. Several mechanisms have been considered for active debris removal (ADR) missions. Among them, tethered cable nets are a promising concept. The modelling of net devices remains a compelling task. We developed a finite element model for the cable net, in line with the position-based finite element formulation. Nets are flexible and kinematically indeterminate structures that undergo both large displacements and large deformation. Cables have different responses to tensile and compressive forces, and are modelled to react only in tension according to a relaxed hyper-elastic constitutive law. Multiple unilateral contacts with the tumbling target are considered by the method of Lagrange multipliers. The simulation tool can drive the effective design of deployable cable nets for ADR missions.