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CEAS EuroGNC 2024

The Deployment Tests of the ESA-Dragliner in the Zero-G Lab
Barış Can Yalçın Space Robotics (SpaceR) Research Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Kirchberg-Luxembourg
Pyry Peitso Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Pekka Janhunen Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Maria Genzer Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Perttu Yli-Opas Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Hannah Laurila Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Maria Hieta Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Harri Haukka Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
David Macieira GRADEL, Ellange, Luxembourg
Petri Toivanen Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Jouni Polkko Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Pulmu Pietikäinen Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Hannu Hallamaa Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Jari Sinkko Spacecraft propulsion, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Espoo, Finland
Miguel Olivares-Mendez Space Robotics (SpaceR) Research Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Kirchberg-Luxembourg
Abstract:
The ESA-Dragliner project, led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, in collaboration with Aurora Propulsion Technologies, GRADEL, and the University of Luxembourg, aims to develop, manufacture, assemble, and test a breadboard model of a tether-based deorbiting system for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) telecommunication satellites. The selected technology for the Dragliner project is the PB (Plasma Brake) microtether, an innovative propellant-free solution designed to efficiently deorbit satellites in LEO. Utilizing Coulomb drag, this system is lightweight, compact, requires minimal power, and operates autonomously without drawing resources from the host satellite during deorbiting. The objective of this project is to design, manufacture, assemble, and test a Breadboard Model (BBM) of a Tether-based deorbiting system for Low-Earth Orbit Satcoms. Additionally, the project aims to analyze and optimize a deorbiting strategy utilizing this technology to achieve successful deorbiting of a LEO spacecraft of maximum 250 kg down to a maximum altitude of 400 km, within 2 years from 850 km original altitude, or 100 days from 550 km original altitude. This paper explains the plans of the deployment tests of the Dragliner project in the Zero-G Lab of SnT-University of Luxembourg.
Keywords:  Space Debris Removal; Space Tethers; Low Earth Orbit; Coulomb Drag
 View PDF CEAS-GNC-2024-030


Barış Can Yalçın, Pyry Peitso, Pekka Janhunen, Maria Genzer, Perttu Yli-Opas, Hannah Laurila, Maria Hieta, Harri Haukka, David Macieira, Petri Toivanen, Jouni Polkko, Pulmu Pietikäinen, Hannu Hallamaa, Jari Sinkko, Miguel Olivares-Mendez: The Deployment Tests of the ESA-Dragliner in the Zero-G Lab. Proceedings of the 2024 CEAS EuroGNC conference. Bristol, UK. June 2024. CEAS-GNC-2024-030.
BibTeX entry:

@Incollection{CEAS-GNC-2024-030,
    author = {Yal\c{c}{\i}n, Bar{\i}\c{s} Can and Peitso, Pyry and Janhunen, Pekka and Genzer, Maria and Yli-Opas, Perttu and Laurila, Hannah and Hieta, Maria and Haukka, Harri and Macieira, David and Toivanen, Petri and Polkko, Jouni and Pietik\"ainen, Pulmu and Hallamaa, Hannu and Sinkko, Jari and Olivares-Mendez, Miguel},
    title = {The Deployment Tests of the ESA-Dragliner in the Zero-G Lab},
    booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2024 {CEAS EuroGNC} conference},
    address = {Bristol, UK},
    month = jun,
    year = {2024},
    note = {CEAS-GNC-2024-030}
}