NanoTug Swarms Show Promise for Active Debris Removal

This paper presents a conceptual design and analysis of a swarm of nanosatellites, termed NanoTugs, for active debris removal (ADR). The proposed system involves deploying multiple NanoTugs from a mother spacecraft to cooperatively capture, stabilize, and de-orbit space debris. The study focuses on the stabilization and de-orbiting phases, with each NanoTug equipped with thrusters. An analytical method is developed to understand the relationship between swarm parameters, debris properties, and mission performance, validated through simulations. Two distribution strategies, random and predefined, are evaluated, with the predefined strategy showing improved performance. De-orbiting is achieved by thrusting along the direction that maximizes the reduction of the semi-major axis, using Gauss variational equations, while a Lyapunov-based control law manages the attitude of the combined system. A task allocation strategy assigns on-off commands to individual thrusters. The results demonstrate the applicability of the analytical swarm sizing approach, though a margin is needed due to simplifying assumptions. The proposed control approach for debris de-orbiting is shown to be feasible through mission simulations. The predefined distribution strategy requires fewer NanoTugs and offers more predictable behavior, while the random distribution results in frequent switching between NanoTug thrusters. Overall, the study highlights the feasibility of the swarm-based NanoTug concept for cooperative debris stabilization and de-orbiting. This research contributes to the growing field of ADR and offers a potential solution to mitigate the increasing threat of space debris. The success of such a system would rely on precise coordination and control, as well as robust communication between the NanoTugs and the mother spacecraft.

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