Method and apparatus for disposal/recovery of orbiting space debris

A method for disposal of orbiting space debris, comprising:

• (a) placing a space debris vehicle in Earth orbit said space debris vehicle having a power subsystem and a space debris capture subsystem said space debris capture subsystem having an internal compartment for receiving space debris and further having at least one robotic arm and hand assembly for capturing space debris and placing it within said internal compartment and having retainer means for securing space debris within said internal compartment;
• (b) placing in orbit a debris container of a dimension for containing a predeterminated volume of space debris:
• (c) maneuvering said space debris vehicle by means of said power subsystem to orbiting space debris for collection thereof within said debris capture subsystem;
• (d) with said robotic arm and hand assembly capturing space debris to which said space debris vehicle has maneuvered and placing it within said internal compartment;
• (e) repeating said maneuvering and capturing of (c) and (d) above until said internal compartment is desirably filled with captured space debris;
• (f) after said internal compartment has been suitably filled with captured space debris, maneuvering said space debris vehicle to rendezvous with said debris container;
• (g) transferring said captured space debris from said internal compartment into said debris container;
• and
• (h) after said debris container has been sufficiently filled with space debris. deorbiting said space debris container and its contained space debris for entry. into the Earth's atmosphere and for total destruction of said debris container and the space debris contained therein by means of heat developed by kinetic energy during entry. into the Earth's atmosphere.

A method for eliminating orbiting space debris from a designated orbit zone, comprising:

• (a) placing in said designated orbit zone at least one space debris vehicle having a power subsystem and a debris capture subsystem and at least one space debris receptacle, said space debris vehicle having the capability of being controllably maneuvered within said designated orbit zone to rendezvous with orbiting space debris therein;
• (b) placing a space debris container in an Earth orbit, said space debris container capable of receiving a plurality of said space debris receptacles;
• (c) coupling said space debris vehicle in powering and maneuvering assembly with said space debris container after said space debris container has been suitably filled with space debris receptacles containing space debris;
• (d) maneuvering said space debris vehicle with said space debris container for rendezvous with selected space debris;
• (e) capturing said orbiting space debris;
• and
• (f) controllably energizing said power subsystem for changing the altitude and orbit zone of said space debris vehicle thus removing said space debris from said designated orbit zone.

Apparatus for removing orbiting space debris from a designated orbital zone about the earth, comprising:

• (a) a space debris vehicle having a power subsystem incorporating a primary source of motive thrust and a plurality of directional control thrusters for orbital maneuvering and having a debris capture subsystem being separably connected to said power subsystem and defining an internal chamber and means for selectively closing said internal chamber, said debris capture subsystem further having means for directing space debris into said internal chamber and having a plurality of video cameras for differential angle visualization of space debris being approached and captured, said space debris vehicle further having an on board computer for controlling power and operational functions of said power subsystem and said debris capture subsystem;
• and
• (b) a space debris container adapted to receive and contain a plurality of space debris receptacles containing space debris captured and deposited therein by said debris capture subsystem of said space debris vehicle, said space debris container being further adapted to receive said power subsystem in maneuvering connection therewith for selective power energized removal thereof from said designated orbit zone about the earth by selective deorbiting thereof for kinetic energy destruction upon Earth atmosphere reentry, by selective boosting thereof to a high parking orbit, by selective ejection thereof from Earth orbit and by selective destruction thereof while in orbit.

A method for removing space debris from Earth orbit, comprising:

• (a) placing a space debris vehicle in Earth orbit, said space debris vehicle having a space debris capture subsystem and a power subsystem;
• (b) placing in Earth orbit a debris container of a dimension for containing a predetermined volume of space debris;
• (c) maneuvering said space debris vehicle by means of said power subsystem for collection of space debris;
• (d) depositing said space debris within said debris container by means of said space debris capture subsystem and said power subsystem;
• and
• (e) placing said debris container with said space debris therein in solar orbit by controlled thrust of said power subsystem.

A method for removing space debris from Earth orbit, comprising:

• (a) placing a space debris vehicle in Earth orbit, said space debris vehicle having a space debris capture subsystem and a power subsystem, said power subsystem being capable of controlled reentry of the Earth's atmosphere and controlled soft landing on the Earth and capable of protecting said space debris and said space debris vehicle from damage during reentry and soft landing;
• (b) placing in Earth orbit a modified recovery module of a dimension for containing and protecting a predetermined volume of space debris;
• (c) maneuvering said space debris vehicle by means of said power subsystem for collection of space debris;
• (d) by means of said capture subsystem acquiring said space debris and placing said space debris within said modified recovery module;
• (e) separating said capture subsystem from said space debris vehicle;
• (f) coupling said power subsystem with said modified recovery module;
• and
• (g) by controlled activation of said power subsystem causing reentry and soft landing of said space debris vehicle and said modified recovery module and said space debris contained therein.

A method for capture and recovery of space debris from selected earth orbit zones, comprising:

• (a) placing a space debris vehicle in a designated earth orbit, said space debris vehicle having a space debris capture subsystem and a power subsystem, said space debris capture subsystem having a robotic system including robotic arm and hand assemblies for establishing physical connection with said space debris and for moving said space debris relative to said space debris capture subsystem, said space debris capture subsystem further having a video camera system for use in identifying the location of space debris relative to said space debris capture subsystem and monitoring connection of said robotic arms and hand assemblies with and positioning of space debris by means of said robotic arm and hand assemblies:
• (b) placing in earth orbit a modified recovery module of a dimension for containing and protecting said space debris;
• (c) maneuvering said space debris vehicle by means of said power subsystem for selective collection of space debris by said robotic arm and hand assemblies;
• (d) by means of said robotic arm and hand assemblies inserting said space debris into said modified recovery module;
• (e) preparing said modified recovery module for deorbit maneuvering by coupling said space debris vehicle therewith;
• (f) by means of said power subsystem, maneuvering said space debris vehicle with said modified recovery module coupled therewith to achieve deorbit maneuvering thereof;
• (g) after assurance of deorbiting of said modified recovery module, separating said space debris vehicle from said modified recovery module and maneuvering said space debris vehicle to a designated orbit;
• and
• (h) controlling deorbiting of said modified recovery module to soft landing at a designated landing site on the earth's surface.

Apparatus for recovery of space debris from a designated earth orbit zone, comprising:

• (a) a space debris vehicle having a debris capture subsystem and a power subsystem said debris capture subsystem having a receptacle therein for receiving space debris;
• (b) a plurality of elongate tethering elements being provided on said debris capture subsystem and being adapted for external attachment to inactive satellites and other large space debris;
• (c) a robotic arm and hand system being provided on said debris capture subsystem for grappling onto space debris and for controllably moving said space debris relative to said space debris vehicle;
• (d) a video camera system being provided on said debris capture subsystem for viewing space debris in the near vicinity of said space debris vehicle and enabling ground control personnel to receive video signals therefrom and visually monitor operation of said robotic arm and hand system and said elongate tether elements during handling of space debris by said debris capture subsystem.