METHOD OF WITHDRAWING SPACECRAFT THAT HAS COMPLETED ACTIVE OPERATION FROM GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT Russian patent published in 2024 - IPC B64G1/24 

FIELD: cosmonautics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space engineering and can be used to withdraw a spacecraft (SC), having completed active operation, from a geostationary orbit (GSO). For this purpose, prior to spacecraft launching to GSO, large-mesh net with inflatable balloons in deflated state is packed and placed in sealed container aboard the spacecraft. Inflatable balloons are made from a film with fibres from carbon nanotubes and are coated with a thin layer of a substance or material with high reflectivity. After active operation of spacecraft on GSO is completed, large-mesh net is pushed out of sealed container, while maintaining mechanical connection of large-mesh net with spacecraft. Then, inflatable balloons are unfolded in space using pressure of residual air in them. At that, due to solar radiation pressure, orbit inclination is changed and spacecraft bundle and large-mesh net are transferred from GSO to geosynchronous orbit. After reaching the orbit inclination in the Laplace plane of value of 7.3 degrees, depressurization or destruction of the inflatable cylinders is performed.

EFFECT: spacecraft drift from GSO and its transfer to geosynchronous orbit with inclination in Laplace plane of 7.3 degrees is achieved.

8 cl