The TeSeR project takes the first step in the development of a PMD module which is attached to a S/C on ground and which is capable of to perform the PMD for any future S/C at the end of its operational lifetime, either the nominal end but also in case of the loss of control of the S/C. With the PMD module the European society and especially the space community (agencies, S/C owners, S/C manufacturers) will have an innovative, reliable and cost efficient tool to increase the PMD success rate to 90%. Consequently, adding new debris to the already existing large debris population is avoided: future S/C will be characterized by higher sustainability, space-based services will feature higher availability and safety, since their self-removal capability keeps relevant orbits free of space debris and thus, ready for additional services that suits EU citizens and all people in the world. This strategy is not only beneficial for the European space industry but for the global market.
The design for variety is a novel approach in space engineering and poses new challenges. TeSeR focuses on modular design for the PMD module itself to deal with these challenges. Also looking further into the needs of future S/C, “advanced” PMD module concepts have been investigated that will use more advanced technology and will operate with higher levels of autonomy thus reducing the workload needed for future S/C removal operators. The design of standardised interfaces that will facilitate the mounting of the module on many types of S/C is also a novel approach. Both, the standard interface and the design for variety allow for the production of similar PMD modules in large numbers, thus reducing their per-unit costs.
An application w.r.t. the standardized interface between PMD module and the S/C could be that it is used as an additional redundant S/C subsystem: in case of an unexpected S/C failure that leaves the S/C with no link to ground, the data and/or electrical interfaces combined with the autonomous status detection abilities and the removal module’s communications subsystem might enable the ground crew to still command the S/C. Thus, the PMD module could be used for S/C recovery before its ultimate removal.
The innovation capacity of the space community is enhanced: Ambitious, future space missions with either scientific or commercial background pose high performance and reliability requirements. These missions could be enabled by providing the capability of safe and highly autonomous operations on-board. Up to now, decisions concerning the recovery from critical faults or the end of S/C operations and, in this case, triggering the self-removal of the S/C are made by ground operators only. The implementation of the proposed enhanced operational concepts and supporting system architecture for on-board autonomy could lower the S/C operator’s workload. Consequently, operational cost of future space missions could be reduced which is essential especially for mega constellations like OneWeb.
The results of our work on resilient status detection capabilities offer great potential for upgrading the traditional approach of fault detection, isolation and recovery (FDIR).
In the long run the PMD module could replace any PMD hardware (e.g. integrated propulsion system). The S/C owner optimizes its S/C for the operational mission and foresees a standardized interface for a PMD module. The PMD module is attached to the S/C via the standardized interface and covers all PMD aspects–thus the S/C owner buys the PMD capability for the S/C. Due to its scalability and flexibility w.r.t. the removal subsystem the PMD module can be produced in serial-production, thus reducing the costs.
