Orbital space is getting increasingly crowded with more and more satellites being launched into space. This proposes a high risk for collision meaning that only a few collision events could both jeopardize the activities in important orbits and cause significant damage to the infrastructure in space.

As a preventive measure, TeSeR proposes a universal "post mission disposal module" to be carried into orbit by any spacecraft being launched to ensure its proper disposal after ending its service lifetime, whether it is planned or unscheduled due to e.g. system failures. The innovative system will allow for the defunct spacecrafts to return safely to Earth.

The TeSeR project contributes to solutions that will help solve the space debris issue to ensure a sustainable space environment for future generations. 

THE SDSS TECHNOLOGY

As part of TeSeR, the Self-deployable Deorbiting Space Structures (SDSS) technology was applied. The SDSS technology allows for usage of low risk system components and a redundant adaptation which increases the operational reliability of the spacecraft. Due to a relatively low complexity/cost of the SDSS it is the objective to fit all future spacecrafts with this technology. The analogy is airbags in cars – providing added mission security for the spacecraft and the removal.

In low Earth orbit (LEO) up to 700km, research results through TeSeR suggests that the SDSS technology effectively can perform a semi-controlled removal of a spacecraft. Developers of future spacecrafts will, by using this technology, meet the UN requirements for space debris mitigation.

The proposed design is modular and in TeSeR it is investigated if the design allows to be scaled/adapted to a wide range of satellite sizes and configurations. Specifically the SDSS will adapt to the Post Mission Disposal (PMD) unit also developed in the TeSeR project. The principle has been demonstrated and a prototype is being developed for more thorough testing as well as preparation for real life application, i.e. launch opportunities.

A HORIZON 2020 PROJECT

The TeSeR project was funded by the European Commission in the Horizon 2020 framework with almost EUR 3 million, running from February 2016 until March 2019.

The project was a collaboration between 10 notable institutes and companies from all across Europe with experts who have been working in the space debris issue for many years.

From Denmark, Aalborg University and the company GomSpace where a part of the project. Aalborg University were responsible for Workpackage 4 where the company Airbus were the coordinator and potential launch customer of TeSeR.