A micro/nano joint satellite design of high maneuverability for space debris removal

Abstract Ever-increasing space debris poses a great threat to spacecraft safety; its removal debuts as an innovative technology and will be in demand in the future. This article proposes a design for micro/nano joint satellites composed of four micro/nanosatellites with high maneuverability to clear space debris. The design incorporates two operating modes with typical applications, and the joint satellite features and essential key technologies are introduced. With the aim to demonstrate well-performed image data fusion and processing of the design, four cameras with different spectral and optical properties are installed for each micro/nanosatellite to acquire images and spectral characteristics for multifeatured identification of debris based on comprehensive analysis. Due to the different remote sensing payloads of the four micro/nanosatellites, the joint satellite is also capable of remote sensing. Compared with a single micro/nanosatellite, the joint satellite is more accurate for debris identification and rapid on-orbit maneuverability in addition to the superior flexibility brought by a touch-and-unfold separating removal mechanism.