[AR] Re: Cubesats orbital grenades ?
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2017 15:11:46 -0500 (EST)
On Thu, 14 Dec 2017, Monroe L. King Jr. wrote:
Honestly John perhaps a tug to take down individual satellites makes
sense. But one that takes down multiple satellites IMO does not.
With chemical propulsion, probably not -- there's just too much diversity
of orbits. But with something like an electrodynamic tether doing most of
the work, it could make sense. Joe Carroll had a concept for that some
years ago, in which the tug grabs a piece of debris, takes it down below
ISS, and separates and goes back up after the next one.
(Taking debris down below ISS gives it a short remaining lifetime, takes
it clear of the biggest collision target :-), is easier and quicker than
deorbiting it entirely, *and* largely avoids the vexing open question of
whether you are liable if you deorbit something and enough of it survives
reentry to do damage on the surface.)
Henry what do you think about a space tug? :)
Tugs in general are a really good idea and can make many things easier.
We've got to stop this business of having every spacecraft entirely on its
own, in virgin wilderness with no support services available.
Whether a *particular* tug concept makes sense depends on details.
Henry
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