An ion-beam shepherd (IBS) is a concept in which the orbit and/or attitude of a spacecraft or a generic orbiting body is modified by having a beam of quasi-neutral plasma impinging against its surface to create a force and/or a torque on the target. Ion and plasma thrusters commonly used to propel spacecraft can be employed to produce a collimated plasma/ion beam and point it towards the body. The fact that the beam can be generated on a "shepherd" spacecraft placed in proximity of the target without physical attachment with the latter provides an interesting solution for space applications such as space debris removal, asteroid deflection and space transportation in general. The Technical University of Madrid (UPM) is exploring this concept[1] by developing analytical and numerical control models in collaboration with the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency. The concept has also been proposed independently by JAXA and CNES.
The force and torque transmitted to the target originate from the momentum carried out by the plasma ions (typically xenon) which are accelerated to a few tens of kilometer per second by an ion or plasma thruster. The ions that reach the target surface lose their energy following nuclear collision in the substrate of the target material. In order to keep a constant distance between the target and the shepherd spacecraft the latter must carry a secondary propulsion system (e.g. another ion or plasma thruster) compensating for the reaction force created by the targeted ion beam.
Applicationsedit
The concept has been suggested as a possible solution for active space debris removal,[2][3][4][5] as well as for accurate deflection of Earth threatening asteroids.[6] Further in the future the concept could play an important role in areas such as space mobility, transportation, assembly of large orbital infrastructures and small asteroid capturing in Earth orbit.
Controledit
Beam divergence angles of ion and plasma thrusters, typically greater than 10 degrees make it necessary to have the shepherd flying not more than a few target diameters away if efficient beam overlap is to be reached. Proximity formation flying guidance and control[7] as well as collision avoidance are among the most critical technological challenges of the concept.
Referencesedit
^C. Bombardelli and J. Peláez, "Sistema de modificación de la posición y actitud de cuerpos en órbita por medio de satélites guía", Patent number P201030354. Presented at the Spanish Patent Office on March 11, 2010. PCT Patent Application PCT/ES2011/000011
^S. Kitamura «Large Space Debris Reorbiter using Ion Beam Irradiation », 61 st International Astronautical Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, Paper IAC-10.A6.4.8, September 2010).
^C. Bonnal, J.M. Ruault, P. Bultel, and M.C. Desjean, «High Level Requirements for an Operational Space Debris Deorbiter», 61 st International Astronautical Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, Paper IAC-10.A6.4.5, September 2010).
^V.S. Aslanov, A.S. Ledkov, «Attitude Motion of Cylindrical Space Debris during Its Removal by Ion Beam», Mathematical Problems in Engineering, vol. 2017, Article ID 1986374, 7 pages, https://www.hindawi.com/journals/mpe/2017/1986374/
^A. Alpatov, S. Khoroshylov, and C. Bombardelli "Relative Control of an Ion Beam Shepherd Satellite Using the Impulse Compensation Thruster", Acta Astronautica, Vol. 151, 2018, pp 543–554.
beam, shepherd, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2024, learn, when, remove, this, message, beam, sheph. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message An ion beam shepherd IBS is a concept in which the orbit and or attitude of a spacecraft or a generic orbiting body is modified by having a beam of quasi neutral plasma impinging against its surface to create a force and or a torque on the target Ion and plasma thrusters commonly used to propel spacecraft can be employed to produce a collimated plasma ion beam and point it towards the body The fact that the beam can be generated on a shepherd spacecraft placed in proximity of the target without physical attachment with the latter provides an interesting solution for space applications such as space debris removal asteroid deflection and space transportation in general The Technical University of Madrid UPM is exploring this concept 1 by developing analytical and numerical control models in collaboration with the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency The concept has also been proposed independently by JAXA and CNES Ion beam shepherd IBS deorbiting a space debris Contents 1 How it works 2 Applications 3 Control 4 References 5 External linksHow it works editThe force and torque transmitted to the target originate from the momentum carried out by the plasma ions typically xenon which are accelerated to a few tens of kilometer per second by an ion or plasma thruster The ions that reach the target surface lose their energy following nuclear collision in the substrate of the target material In order to keep a constant distance between the target and the shepherd spacecraft the latter must carry a secondary propulsion system e g another ion or plasma thruster compensating for the reaction force created by the targeted ion beam Applications editThe concept has been suggested as a possible solution for active space debris removal 2 3 4 5 as well as for accurate deflection of Earth threatening asteroids 6 Further in the future the concept could play an important role in areas such as space mobility transportation assembly of large orbital infrastructures and small asteroid capturing in Earth orbit Control editBeam divergence angles of ion and plasma thrusters typically greater than 10 degrees make it necessary to have the shepherd flying not more than a few target diameters away if efficient beam overlap is to be reached Proximity formation flying guidance and control 7 as well as collision avoidance are among the most critical technological challenges of the concept References edit C Bombardelli and J Pelaez Sistema de modificacion de la posicion y actitud de cuerpos en orbita por medio de satelites guia Patent number P201030354 Presented at the Spanish Patent Office on March 11 2010 PCT Patent Application PCT ES2011 000011 C Bombardelli and J Pelaez Ion Beam Shepherd for Contactless Space Debris Removal Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics Vol 34 No 3 May June 2011 pp 916 920 http sdg aero upm es PUBLICATIONS PDF 2011 AIAA 51832 628 pdf S Kitamura Large Space Debris Reorbiter using Ion Beam Irradiation 61 st International Astronautical Congress Prague Czech Republic Paper IAC 10 A6 4 8 September 2010 C Bonnal J M Ruault P Bultel and M C Desjean High Level Requirements for an Operational Space Debris Deorbiter 61 st International Astronautical Congress Prague Czech Republic Paper IAC 10 A6 4 5 September 2010 V S Aslanov A S Ledkov Attitude Motion of Cylindrical Space Debris during Its Removal by Ion Beam Mathematical Problems in Engineering vol 2017 Article ID 1986374 7 pages https www hindawi com journals mpe 2017 1986374 C Bombardelli and J Pelaez Ion Beam Shepherd for Asteroid Deflection Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics Vol 34 No 4 July August 2011 pp 1270 1272 http sdg aero upm es PUBLICATIONS PDF 2011 AIAA 51640 157 pdf A Alpatov S Khoroshylov and C Bombardelli Relative Control of an Ion Beam Shepherd Satellite Using the Impulse Compensation Thruster Acta Astronautica Vol 151 2018 pp 543 554 External links edithttp www aero upm es Universidad Politecnica de Madrid UPM http sdg aero upm es Space Dynamics Group at UPM https web archive org web 20120426091458 http web fmetsia upm es ep2 page php page index amp lang en Equipo de Propulsion Espacial y Plasmas UPM http www esa int act ESA Advanced Concepts Team http leosweep upm es en LEOSWEEP project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ion beam shepherd amp oldid 1196161763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
