Free Tumbling Objects Attitude Control via Contactless Chaser Authority Exploiting a Formation Flying Architecture

Contactless Active Debris Removal (ADR) techniques are currently among the most promising methods to safely answer the problem of remediation. The paper discusses the effectiveness of debris de-tumbling using plume impingement of chemical thruster. The strategy implemented foresee the exploitation of a formation flying architecture: the chaser is controlled to stay on a given relative trajectory with respect to the target, which is an uncooperative debris object. The attitude of the target is controlled by means of plume impingement mechanism via chaser authority. A key point for this technology to be effective stays in evaluating the actual energy transfer between the gas particles and the uncooperative object, as well as in assessing its sensitivity to the several parameters the scenario depends on. The paper describes the numerical simulator implemented to model the mechanics of chemical plume impingement. The feasibility and performance of this peculiar attitude control strategy are investigated, looking for criticalities, benefits and drivers. To compare and study the effectiveness and possible applications of chemical plume impingement strategy, the method is applied to a study case. The effects of the numerous parameters involved in the analysis are discussed. Results show how chemical plume impingement concept may be very attractive for future ADR missions: contactless attitude control strategies can serve to de-tumble uncontrolled spinning space debris to safer face the subsequent disposal phase.