METHOD FOR CLEANING NEAR-EARTH SPACE FROM LARGE OBJECTS OF SPACE DEBRIS, INCLUDING UNSTABILIZED Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC B64G1/56 

FIELD: near-Earth space cleaning.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods for cleaning near-Earth space (NES) from large objects of space debris (SD). The method includes launching a spacecraft into the region of orbits intended for their cleaning from large spacecraft objects. To capture and decelerate large-sized SD objects, large-mesh nets of carbon nanotubes are used, on which inflatable balloons made of a film of carbon nanotubes are placed and fixed as an aerodynamic brake. In this case, inflatable balloons are covered with a highly reflective film. On the surface of the network of carbon nanotubes deploying inflatable elements are placed in the form of hollow multilayer containment shells. After detection of a large-size spacecraft object by means of ground-based space monitoring facilities (SMF), measurements of its movement parameters relative to the spacecraft, commands are transmitted via radio link to the spacecraft to rendezvous between the spacecraft and the large-size spacecraft object and carry out the rendezvous of the spacecraft with the large-size spacecraft object. The network captures a large-sized SD object. Upon a signal from sensors located on the spacecraft and/or on the large-mesh network, inflatable balloons are filled with gas and deployed in outer space. Then, the transfer of a large-sized SD object to a lower orbit is provided, followed by entry into the dense layers of the atmosphere.

EFFECT: increased efficiency of NES cleaning from large-size spacecraft objects.

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