KALL MORRIS INC- ACTIVE DEBRIS REMOVAL AND LAELAPS

Kall Morris Inc (KMI) has a designated strategy for conducting Active Debris Removal (ADR) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), while also supporting In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) and Space Access, Mobility, and Logistics (SAML) through our flagship spacecraft Laelaps. Laelaps is an advanced and innovative spacecraft focused on asset relocation, tasked with moving objects between orbits or to deorbit. Designed with complementary technology and operational capabilities to support in-orbit servicing and inspection missions as well as Space Mobility and Logistics (SML) operations, Laelaps provides a versatile, cost-effective, timely, and resource-efficient solution for the protection of orbital assets for industry, academia, and defense customers. Optimized for rideshare on ESPA-compatible launch vehicles, Laelaps ensures rapid, scalable, cost-effective, long-term debris management.

The Laelaps spacecraft will be equipped with KMI’s proprietary hardware and software to execute complex ADR and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) operations. Its core technologies include the Automated Target Recognition (ATR) TumblEye system, REACCH end effector for ubiquitous capture, and a deployable Asteria augmentation device. The REACCH end effector is currently obtaining flight heritage through in-space testing aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as of November 2024. This technology suite will enable Laelaps to repeatably rendezvous, retrieve, tag, and relocate objects with varying surfaces and geometries. Additionally, this combined technology supports a variety of use cases and is compatible with nearly all Resident Space Objects (RSO) larger than 25cm. Laelaps is designed to service or relocate multiple RSO per mission, making it an efficient, multi-use platform in ADR and OOS operations.

KMI is proceeding with a hands-on strategy in which physical control is taken of a desired client object with the assistance of electric propulsion (EP). Taking this hands-on approach allows KMI to conduct operations that are not limited to deorbiting and extend to the partnerships and collaborative efforts to keep space clear for all and “REACCH” beyond borders. Various companies and agencies throughout the space industry are interested in fostering the field of ISAM. Our partnerships include several companies that have the goal to reuse material already located in orbit, facilitating new technological advancements, and coordinating for clear international salvage permissions. Laelaps will enable the relocation of objects to not only be deorbited but also maneuvered to be recycled or serviced. By directly connecting and repositioning RSO and client objects, both can be altered in their altitude and inclination to facilitate further steps to remove, recycle, or reuse the object.

Laelaps offers advantages for the ADR and OOS markets, engaging with unprepared and uncontrolled objects without modification. Its ability to conduct several repeatable attachments, captures, and tag operations supports ongoing ADR missions with minimal to no reconfiguration. By supporting in-orbit servicing and inspection missions, as well as Space Mobility and Logistics (SML) operations, Laelaps directly addresses the growing challenges of space debris and servicing needs of satellites, providing an innovative solution for both US and international satellite operators.