Phys.org June 12, 2019
A European research project, called E.T.PACK, is developing a new system for deorbiting space satellites without using on board power and fuel using low work-function tether. It consists of 50 microns thick, 2 cm wide aluminum that is several kilometers in length. It would be rolled up in a reel during the launch of the satellite. Aluminum must have the ability to emit electrons when it is heated. The tether transforms orbital energy into electrical energy while it deorbits the satellite without using any type of fuel. It uses natural resources in the space environment, such as the geomagnetic field, ionospheric plasma and solar radiation. In three years, they expect to have a prototype of the deorbit kit that could be matured in a next project and be tested in a demonstration flight…read more.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain