De-orbiting Drag Sail

Abstract

This thesis examined the possibility of developing a compact, reliable, and scalable drag sail to aid in de-orbiting satellites during their end-of-life operations. Using a current prototype, we created and tested a full-scale drag sail. We also developed a reliable mechanism that both retains the drag sail in a stowed configuration to prevent mission obstruction and, when commanded, allows a smooth and successful deployment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1114682

Entities

People

  • Samuel J. Nichols

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Actuators
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Environment
  • Explosives
  • Governments
  • History
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Materials
  • Models
  • Orbits
  • Outer Space
  • Release Mechanisms
  • Reliability
  • Shape Memory Alloys
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Debris
  • Space Environments
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • United States

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites