Duration: 6 months
A record increase in the number of launched satellites can be witnessed owing to the ‘New Space revolution’. This in turn has led to an unprecedented rise in the amount of debris. While several solutions for debris mitigation/removal are currently under investigation, ESA’s ambitious commitment to Zero-Debris Approach will require exploration and adoption of much wider approaches. Employment of Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system on CubeSat platform aligns perfectly with the CubeSat platform innovation that ESA is seeking. As the demand for high-performance/low-cost payloads increases, VLEO presents a unique opportunity for CubeSats to deliver superior performances while also ensuring natural and reliable end-of-life disposal. An ABEP-based CubeSat platform will not just ensure an extended lifetime of the mission but also unlock the VLEO orbits to reach the zero-debris goal. However, an ABEP system could significantly affect the CubeSat platform design making its adoption difficult.
SSI proposes a system study of a modular plug-and-play ABEP system 'CleanCube' that integrates on VLEO CubeSat platforms to enhance satellite performance, extend mission life, and ensure compliance with de-orbiting regulations. The CleanCube initiative's system study will define requirements that the ABEP system has to adopt, to bring minimal changes in the conventional CubeSats. Conceptual designs focusing on integrating ABEP for various sizes of CubeSat will be developed. This will include creating platform architectures, designing interfacing, identifying key enabling components, and ensuring compatibility with current & future debris mitigation standards. Throughout the study, SSI will engage with platform and payload stakeholders such as TAS UK, ISISpace, cosine BV and multiple end users. Additionally, preliminary assessments will be conducted to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of the mission, aiming for a demonstration launch by 2027.
