Design of a Debris Removal & On-Orbit Maintenance Mission for Mega-Constellations

This paper shows the results of the design of a mission providing a service of maintenance and removal of mega-constellations. The innovative concept inspiring the design of DeBROOM(2), Debris Removal and On-Orbit Maintenance Mission, is that a combination of different services can be performed in a modular and standardized way by a single unit servicing satellites in each orbital plane of the constellation. This is achieved through a servicer, which carries both the equipment to refuel target satellites and active-debris removal and propulsive kits, dedicated to the extension of the mission lifetime of cooperative OneWeb satellites, via the takeover of the attitude and orbital control system, as well as to de-orbit uncooperative faulty OneWeb satellites from LEO. The design covers all the areas of system level design, including the definition of system and mission requirements, concept of operations, and mission concept design, along with the design of the servicer and propulsive kits. The paper highlights and identifies the key challenges, the main drivers, and the major traded-off options during the mission concept design. Particular focus is given to the mission analysis aspects, with a computation of the delta-V that characterizes the key maneuvers necessary to serve one or a selection of orbital planes constituting the mega-constellation. The feasibility of the mission is demonstrated by the relevant budgets, along with the utilization of high TRL and COTS components in almost all the key elements of the mission.