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Clean Space A new cross-cutting initiative of ESA

The Clean Space Team 15/04/2013

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Index

Introduction Clean Space Branch 3 Space debris mitigation Branch 4 Space debris remediation

Implementation Conclusions

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ESA, with the Clean Space initiative, will give a pro-active answer to the environmental challenges both on ground and in space, including

its own operations as well as operations performed by European space industry in the frame of ESA programmes

Concerns on the sustainability of the exploitation of space:

Risk due to space debris News headlines worldwide (impact on the image of the space sector as a whole)

Introduction

Environmental concerns lead to: New legislations (REACH, RoHS, LOS) Competitive advantage due to green technologies Pressure on the space industry (risk of supply chain disruptions; requests from customers, operator clients, employees)

ACTION IS NECESSARY TO TRANSFORM THREATS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

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Clean Space

Clean Technologies

"contribute to the reduction of the environmental

impact of space programmes,

taking into account the overall life-cycle

and the management

of residual waste

and pollution resulting from space activities"

Clean technologies

Eco-Design to evaluate the environmental impact and

monitor legislation risk

Green technologies – green propulsion, green

electronics, new materials and processes

Technologies to support debris mitigation

Technologies for active debris removal

Studies to improve

understanding

Green technologies

Space Debris

Branch 1

Branch 2

Branch 4

Branch 3

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Guaranteeing the future of space activities by protecting the environment

Objective of the Clean Space Initiative

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Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation Sus

tain

abili

ty o

f sp

ace

expl

oita

tion •Simulations show that the

number of debris keeps growing even if no further objects are launched

•World-wide actions by active debris removal (~5 objects per year)

•Risk of in-orbit collisions is increasing (e.g. Iridium-Cosmos)

•Substantial increase of the number of Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres

•Risk of an ESA satellites encountering a catastrophic collision in the next 50 years between ~7.5% and ~11%

On

grou

nd s

afet

y •Uncontrolled re-entry of debris causes a risk for on-ground safety

Inno

vatio

n •Innovative technologies (e.g. capture, sensors) are necessary, synergies with other applications (e.g. satellite servicing, capturing asteroids)

•Possibility of new market for ADR

Why 1/2

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On average, 50 objects need to be removed to prevent one collision, optimised by selecting density hot-spots (in high altitudes) Criteria for removal should be (a combination of): – Collision probability [cross-section, population density] – Altitude of the target orbit [lifetime of fragments] – Mass of the target

Delays in starting ADR activities make ADR less effective

Why 2/2

Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation

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Develop technologies for space debris rendezvous, capture and re-entry

Adopting a system approach, technology developments are planned to be focused on a mission for the controlled de-orbit of heavy objects Place European industry at a forefront position on anticipated future markets

Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation Objectives

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Target Selection: metrics

Orbit

Risk of collision

Risk of ground casualty

RDV and capture

Applicability to other targets

Legal issues

Consequence of damage caused by the ADR mission

Type

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Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation

10

How? Recent and on-going activities

Technologies

•SMART-OLEV •Conexpress •RObotic GEostationary orbit Restorer (ROGER)

•Three Ariadna research studies on novel space debris removal concepts (foams, ion beam shepherd, hybridsail), 2010-11

•SysNova, June-December 2012

Concurrent Design Facilities studies

•Envisat De-Orbit, March 2011 •e.Deorbit, September 2012

Technology and system studies

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Orbit

Robotic arm

Net Clamping mechanisms

Ion-beam shepherd

Capture techniques

Recent and Ongoing ESA Activities e.Deorbit – system options

Chemical (CP) Electrical (EP)

Re-orbit to >2000 km De-orbit to <600 km Controlled re-entry

Propulsion

Others (harpoon, clamp, etc.)

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Rigid connections (push)

Soft connections (pull)

Point contact

Multiple / distributed contacts

Recent and Ongoing ESA Activities e.Deorbit – selection of capture technology

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Mature ADR technologies: - Adapt and upgrade existing sensor suit to perform rendezvous with un-cooperative target - Evaluate capture mechanisms (i.e. net, harpoon, clamping, robotic arm) and promote technology maturation - Control of stack after capture, push or pulling approaches must be studied and developed - Verification & Validation framework

System approach targeting an ESA S/C controlled re-entry: - Phase A and B1 mission design - Service oriented approach to ADR

Study alternative approaches for other targets: - Stabilisation of tumbling targets - Ion Beam Shepherd

Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation How?

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Recent and Ongoing ESA Activities

Preliminary system design for most promising options, identify the required technology roadmap, and investigate its (their) applicability to other ESA missions Assessment of feasibility, programmatic, risk and cost aspects of a mission for the controlled de-orbiting and re-entry of a large, massive, un-cooperative target in SSO, using technologies analysed in previous CDF studies (e.g. tentacles, robotic arm, net)

Initial orbit (300 x 300 km)

Launch

Phasing

Rendezvous

Perigee lowering burns

Capture Target

De-orbit burn

Controlled Re-Entry

Commissioning

Target orbit

e.Deorbit

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Branch 4 Space Debris Remediation Roadmap

2020 2021

DLR

2019

TEC

Cle

an S

pace

- B

ranc

h 4

SSO

C M2018… 2014 2015 2017C M2012 2013C M2011 2016

GSP ROGER

e.DeorbitCDF Study

Phase A

PRR SRR

Other technologies - Tumbling modelling, Detumbling solutions, Ion Beam Shepherd

DEOS Phase A/B1

C/D/E1 KO

Vision Based Navigation - Image recognition

Vision Based Navigation - Sensors development

Advanced GNC

Envisat De-orbit CDF Fast -track

Operational Capility for Exploration

< TRL 4

> TRL 4

Projects

Other

OperationalCapability

Capture mechanism development and test

DEOS Robotic Arm development and testing

DEOS Phase B2/C/D

GSP - Assessment of service oriented approach

PDR

Decision

Phase B1

PDR

Phase B2

CDR

Phase C

Standard approach

CDR Phase D

Launch

Service oriented approach (to be defined) Launch

QR

Launch

Launch

GSP - debris mitigation aspects for ESA

missions

CleanSpace One - Phase A Technology development

Proba 3

CleanSpace One Phase B/C/D

Identification of ADR system validation and verification requirements

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Step-wised approach to the implementation of Clean Space roadmaps Selected activities have been proposed for implementation in 2013-2014 through ESA technology programmes Discussions with European partners to exploit synergies is on-going Talks with international partners for possible cooperation on ADR mission have been initiated

Clean Space implementation

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Priority activities, over the period 2013 to 2016, amounting to about 60 M€

Branch 1 - Eco Design 4-6 Meuro

Branch 2- Green Technologies 10-15 Meuro

Branch 3 - Debris Mitigation 15-20 Meuro

Branch 4 – Debris Remediation 15-20 Meuro

Financial aspects

Clean Space implementation

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Conclusions

The Clean Space initiative is a cross-cutting theme within ESA's Technology programmes aiming at making ESA an exemplary agency in terms of terrestrial and space environmental protection containing technology activities presented grouped in roadmaps and proposing a series of technologies which will allow European space industry to:

effectively use resources implement regulations mitigate risks

willing to turn an apparent threat into an opportunity for the entire space sector

Luisa Innocenti Head of Clean Space Office Email: luisa.innocenti@esa.int T: +33 1 53 69 73 52

For further information Clean Space website: esa.int/TEC/Clean_Space/ Email: cleanspace@esa.int

Thank you