METHOD FOR CLEANING NEAR-EARTH SPACE FROM SPACE DEBRIS USING STREAMS OF LUNAR DUST Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC B64G1/00 B64G1/56 

FIELD: near-Earth cleaning methods.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods for ensuring flight safety in the near-Earth environment contaminated with space debris fragments (SDFs) moving in orbits (1). In the proposed method, a braking medium (MB) is formed from “lunar dust” in purification zones (2), where the SDFs have close orbital velocity vectors. The MB generators (7₁, 7₂) are launched by the carrier (7) from the Moon into an orbit close to parabolic, counter-SDF orbit (5) with perigee inside the zone (2). In section (6) of the orbit, the MB generators (MBG) are separated from the carrier, placing one (or more) MBGs (7₁) in the leading position, and the other MBGs (7₂) in the accompanying positions. The MBG (7₁) forms a probing (sparse) dust plume (PDP) in the cleaning zone (2), and the following MBG (7₂) form the main (dense) dust plume (MDP). PDP particles heat up the SDF when they collide with them, transferring the “lightest” SDFs to the trajectories (3) of entry into the atmosphere (4). Larger and more massive SDFs are identified by their radiation during cooling, and MBGs (7₂) are sent to intercept them, which for MDP to decelerate these SDFs and transfer them to the trajectories of entry into the atmosphere. Dust that has not reacted with SDFs is removed from the Earth's sphere of influence along the orbit (5).

EFFECT: more complete and safe removal of SDFs from near-Earth space at a lower cost.

3 cl, 2 tbl, 12 dwg