A Ready-to-Fly Deorbit Device Based on Electrodynamic Tether Technology

Project Information

E.T.PACK-F

Grant agreement ID: 101058166

DOI

10.3030/101058166

Project closed

EC signature date 17 March 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 December 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 2 499 513,00

EU contribution

€ 2 499 513,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - E.T.PACK-F (A Ready-to-Fly Deorbit Device Based on Electrodynamic Tether Technology)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The population of space debris in Low Earth Orbit is currently under the so-called Kessler syndrome, i.e. the density of objects is above the criticial threshold that triggers an uncontrolled cascade of collisions. To stop it and make a sustainable use of the outer space, satellite and launcher's upper stages should be deorbited at the end-of-life. Such action requires a propulsion technology to decrease their altitude of until reaching the upper layer of the atmosphere where they are eiminated during the re-entry. Conventional in-orbit propulsion technogies, like chemical and electric thrusters, can be used for deorbiting but their use is normally expensive and complex.

The main objective of E.T.PACK-F is to mature in Europe a propellant-less in-orbit technlogy known as ElectroDynamic Tether (EDT). EDTs are long conductors (a tape of aluminium) that interact passively with the ambient plasma and the geomagnetic field to produce a force without using propellant. In the former EIC project E.T.PACK (2019-2022), the team developed a prototype of a deorbit device based on EDT technology.
The main goal of E.T.PACK-F is to prepare a "flight-ready" deorbit device to be tested in an in-orbit demonstration in 2025. In parallel, E.T.PACK-F will develop the business model for the future commercialisation of the technologies, will raise awareness, and will prepare consortium’s structures for their commercialization.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Using the prototype of the former EIC project E.T.PACK as starting point, the team finished the design of the deorbit device. With a volume of 12U and a mass of 24 kg, it can host a 500-m long electrodynamic tether. The deorbit device is made of two modules, i.e. the Deployment Mechanism Module (DMM) and the Electron Emitter Module (EEM), that are initially linked. The deorbit device is prepared to detumble autonomously and acquire a concrete attitude to prepare the tether deployment phase. Aided by a cold gas system, the two modules separate during tether deployment, which finished with the tether fully deployed, aligned along the local vertical, and ready to start generating a Lorentz drag. At a system level, Model Based System Engineering techniques were implemented during the project. The description of the subsystems of the deorbit device were implemented in the E.T.PACK-F SysML database, in diagrams, and text description. In 2023, the team prepared a manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing plan and started it implementation. Currently, the integration phase is in progress. In parallel, important technical progress was achieved for the deployment mechanism and the electron emitter, which are two critical elements of the deorbit device. The Onboard Software of the Deorbit Device has been completed and tested including the autocoding of the AOCS application software, the operation telecommands, the downlink telemetry and the full housekeeping used for the system verification.All the avionics components were selected and procured. An Electric Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) specifically designed to test the EQM was developed has been manufactured and validated.

On the business side, the consortium decided to create a new company called PeRSei Space to mature and commercialize the E.T.PACK technologies. A tech-to-Market Plan, a Business Model and a Business Plan were prepared. The company, which will be an spingoff of UC3M, was founded in October 2023. Negotiations between the promotors of PeRSei and UC3M, TUD, SENER Aeroespacial and UNIPD are in progress to sign IP Transfer Agreements.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

E.T.PACK-F is preparing a flight-ready deorbit device based on an electrodynamic tether and a proposal submitted by the team to the European Commission for an IOD/IOV opportunity was preselected. The in-orbit-demonstration of the deorbit device, which is expected to happen in 2025, would be the first experiment in Europe with a bare electrodynamic tether. The combined properties of the deorbit device of E.T.PACK-F including the tether type (bare), geometry (tape), and electron emitter (hollow cathode), distinguish it from other experiments with electrodynamic tethers carried out worldwide. A high-performance and scalable system has been designed to be ready for a fast transition to a commercial product. The device can help to open a new market on deorbit technologies to contribute to a sustainable use of space.