Artificial libration points in the task of towing space debris by an ion beam

Abstract

The work is devoted to the problem of towing space debris from a geostationary orbit to a graveyard orbit by a non-contact method using an ion beam created by the engine of an active spacecraft. For the planar case using the modified Hill task, the points of relative equilibrium (libration points) of the active spacecraft relative to the object of removal are determined and their stability is estimated. It is shown that, depending on the values of radial acceleration, there are up to 6 libration points, but only one point is suitable for towing a space debris object. The required amount of fuel was determined for different values of thrust and specific impulse of the active spacecraft compensating engine during simultaneous operation of electric propulsion thrusters. The results can be used to stabilize the relative motion of the active spacecraft and determine the required amount of fuel for the mission to remove space debris.

Keywords

• space debris
• noncontact method
• stability
• libration point