Design-ballistic analysis of a mission for active removal of space debris from geostationary orbit

Abstract

The paper considers the service spacecraft (SSC) with electric propulsion system (EPS) to approach the objects of space debris (OSD) and its transportation into a disposal orbit. It suggests the SSC operation algorithm and different ways to ensure its implementation. The paper also provides the equations of SSC motion at optimal control, gives design-ballistic analysis alongside with the calculation of the required resources for the SSC operation.