Validation of a Net Active Debris Removal Simulator within Parabolic Flight Experiment

Currently space debris is recognized as a major risk for space missions. In this frame it is involved the Patender project (Net parametric characterization and parabolic flight). The goal of this ESA funded activity (ending by March 2014) is to develop a confident mean to further investigate, develop and validate the concept of using nets for actively removing space debris of different characteristics. The net simulator will be validated in a parabolic flight experiment where microgravity conditions can be reached during some few tens of seconds. Different net shapes (pyramidal/planar) will be launched using a pneumatic-based dedicated mechanism in order to simulate the capture of a large space debris. High-speed motion cameras will record the experiment in order to allow the 3D reconstruction of the deployment and wrapping around the target phases and the validation of the software simulator.