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Research Article

Conceptual design of an active debris removal mission targeting KOMPSAT-1
Taeyeon Choe1
,
Minhyung Kim1
,
Woojin Jeong1
,
Jinhyuk Jang1
,
Hyeongjun Park1*
,
Jai-ick Yoh1
1Department of Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2025. pp. 51-64
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Abstract

The rapid increase in space debris within Earth’s orbit has significantly heightened the risk of collisions, posing threats to critical satellite operations. In response, this paper proposes a conceptual on-orbit servicing (OOS) and active debris removal (ADR) mission architecture, encompassing key phases such as rendezvous, proximity maneuvers, debris capture, and final deorbiting. Our approach integrates robust navigation and path-planning algorithms, validated using NASA’s General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) and MATLAB, to address uncertainties in orbital dynamics. The mission design includes a spacecraft with a dry mass of 150 kg and an additional 150 kg of propellant, featuring a specific impulse of 250 s. Analysis indicates that approximately 130 kg of propellant is sufficient for successful mission execution. Furthermore, a conjunction assessment is conducted to mitigate the risk of secondary collisions during deorbit, ensuring the safety of other resident space objects. By presenting a streamlined concept of operations (ConOps) and detailing operational methodologies, this work provides valuable insights for future ADR missions and contributes to the sustainability of space activities. Ultimately, our findings emphasize the necessity of systematic mission planning and reliable technological solutions to address the escalating challenge of orbital debris.

Keywords
Active debris removal
Conceptual mission design
Robotic arm
Space capture system
In-space servicing
Assembly and manufacturing
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Academy of Space Security
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국우주안보학회
  • Journal Title :JOURNAL OF SPACE SECURITY
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국우주안보학회지
  • Volume : 2
  • No :1
  • Pages :51-64
  • Received Date : 2025-03-04
  • Revised Date : 2025-05-02
  • Accepted Date : 2025-06-09
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23386/joss.2025.2.1.005
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