Electrodynamic Tether Experiment onboard the Delfi-1 Satellite

Electrodynamic Tether Experiment onboard the Delfi-1 Satellite

Wijnans, A.S.

Zandbergen, B.T.C. (mentor)

Aerospace Engineering

Space Engineering

Space Systems Engineering

2012-01-25

Space debris is becoming an increasing problem requiring a low cost propulsion system capable of disposing non operable satellites and spent rocket stages. To this end electrodynamic tethers have been proposed as a viable alternative to conventional propulsion. Aside from a de-orbit system electrodynamic tethers have a wide range of applications as a power generator or propulsion system being ideally suited to orbital environments having strong magnetic fields for example Jovian orbits. Previous experiments performed in the development of electrodynamic tethers used insulated wire tethers and separate current collection devices, either large passive spheres or active plasma contactors. The subject of this thesis is to design and size an electrodynamic tether experiment for use onboard the Delfi-1 University satellite. The main objectives of the experiment are to provide a proof of concept of bare electrodynamic tether propulsion and deploy and operate a tape tether. A tape tether design has been selected having a favourable geometry for current collection and survivability in the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment in comparison with ‘traditional’ wire tethers. The tape tether also has favourable drag properties allowing for a rapid deorbit when cut from the main satellite decreasing the risk of collision with operational satellites. A secondary objective for the experiment is to determine if the release of a neutral gas can enhance the current of the tether and the deorbit performance. This experiment is fundamental in the development of a fully passive deboost capability for tether equipped systems. The limited amount of storage and mass, power and data rate available when using a micro-satellite platform for the experiment combined with low complexity and cost requirements inherent to the Delfi-1 project drives the design to a bare minimum required for performing the primary scientific objectives. The baseline design for the experiment is characterised by a passive bare floating electrodynamic tether deployed in nadir direction using a passive deployment mechanism.

electrodynamic
tether
propulsion

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:437869ae-2a7d-40aa-b809-67b314dc91a7

2012-03-08

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2012 Wijnans, A.S.