Device for moving or removing artificial satellites

A device to be coupled to a space satellite to be orbited around a celestial body at a mission orbit before launch of said space satellite to remove said space satellite from said mission orbit towards said celestial body or move said space satellite from said mission orbit to a different space orbit when said space satellite reaches an end of useful life or when said space satellite becomes faulty, said device operating in an independent mode or in a remote-controlled mode employing remote control means, the mission orbit being an orbit assigned to said space satellite for operations required during a stay thereof in space, wherein said device is independent and autonomous with respect to said space satellite and independent with respect to said remote control means, said device comprising:

• on-board control means of said device, independent of control means of said space satellite, comprising an electronic board comprising microcontrollers and at least one of an electronic interface and an electrical interface;
• means for receiving control signals from said remote control means or a means for emitting control signals, operatively connected to said on-board control means via at least one of said electronic interface and said electrical interface;
• wherein said control signals activate a moving/removing sequence;
• propulsion means, independent of propulsion of said space satellite, operatively connected with said on-board control means via at least one of said electronic interface and said electrical interface, said propulsion means being ignited by said on-board control means upon receiving said control signals to remove said space satellite from said mission orbit to a predefined Earth area or to a predefined different space orbit;
• electric power supply means for said device, independent of electric power supply means of said space satellite, operatively connected to said on-board control means by at least one of said electronic interface and said electrical interface;
• and
• pre-launch mechanical coupling means coupling said device to said space satellite, providing an adjustable connection between said device and said space satellite;
• wherein said pre-launch mechanical coupling means is operatively connected with said on-board control means of said device via at least one of said electronic interface and said electrical interface;
• wherein said adjustable connection is configured to be adjusted to mitigate misalignment of a thrust vector of said propulsion means of said device with respect to a center of gravity of a combination of said space satellite and said device, without employing a component of said space satellite, when said propulsion means is ignited;
• wherein said space satellite is a single satellite, and
• wherein the device is permanently coupled to said single satellite to be located external relative to said single satellite and protrude therefrom while remaining attached to said single satellite during operation at said mission orbit and while removing said single satellite from said mission orbit toward said predefined Earth area or to said predefined different space orbit.