Innovative Net & Space Inflatable structure for active Debris Removal (INSIDeR)

This paper intends to describe Bertin Technologies’ INSIDeR concept. INSIDeR is a patented concept associating two key technologies, net capture and inflatable structures. Net capture is a particularly interested solution to have a concept adaptable to debris morphology and tumbling rate. Inflatable structures are a good mean for deployment, easy control and damping of the movement. Debris capture strategy relays on a robust sequence consisting in a progressive chaser and target approach by natural orbit synchronization following net deployment and passive debris locking by relative motion. This limits risk of mission failure due to irreversible actions as well as active orbital manoeuver costs.
This system relies on advantages of both net and inflatable structures concepts, relative to:
- Mission: the system can be adapted to any ADR chaser concept (mono-mission or multi-mission, and can be used as a kit), is scalable, and has a high controllability during coupling.
- Debris targets: the system is adaptable to debris mass, tolerant to debris morphology and spin/tumbling rate, tolerant to debris attitude and position, and with an easy control of the capture system and damping (Cf. coupling sequence).
- System itself: the system can be almost qualified on ground, uses cost effective (use of existing technology), uses mature technologies (innovation only at system level), and is a quite “Simple” solution.
INSIDeR could be contained in a box of about 50 cm edge that can be plugged on any ADR system.