Deorbiting small satellites from the ISS using a tether system

Abstract

This paper presents results of a study conducted for the project IPERDRONE that aims at the design and development of a small re-entry system, able to perform in-orbit operations near the International Space Station (ISS), to reenter the atmosphere, and to land safely on Earth bringing back scientific payloads/experiments intact from the ISS. The results presented focus on the dynamics of the tethered space drone using the Swing and Release technique in close proximity of the ISS to exchange momentum between the departing IPERDRONE and the ISS, and the active propulsion system needed for the re-entry trajectory. This study could lead to a new technological solution for deorbiting a space vehicle from the ISS that is low cost, safe and free of contamination.