Duration: 36 months
Currently planned Solar Power Satellites pose a new and challenging problem to the management of the space environment. The problem is the possible collisions of existing space objects with an SPS and the consequent risk to the space environment. This risk is multifaceted and covers both the nominal operational life of an SPS and the two critical phases of assembly and disposal. Also, this risk has two sides: one is the risk encountered by the SPS and the other is the risk induced by the presence of an SPS to the rest of the operational satellites. The mitigation of this risk is potentially more complex than with normal active satellites due to the size and complexity of and SPS. Larger collision avoidance manoeuvres are required and need to account for the total occupancy of an SPS that includes the uncertainty on its attitude motion. Impacts with fragments and meteoroids are also expected to be more frequent with a range of consequences from the simple failure of components to the generation of additional fragments to the perturbation of the attitude motion. On the other had an SPS can potentially implement mitigation actions against fragments using lasers, given the substantial power already available on board. Project SOLERO will address the increased risk, induced by the launch, deployment, maintenance and disposal of one or more SPS, and the associated space traffic management requirements. SOLERO will then study the consequences of an impact with a fragment or a non-operational space object and the induced perturbations on the attitude and orbit motion of the SPS. Finally SOLERO will explore the use of on board lasers as a possible mitigation solution against fragments.
