OpenSpace 3

SPACE ELEVATOR VERSUS SPACE DEBRIS

The new method for eliminating the space debris at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) is presented here. The paper shows how the Space Elevator can be used in struggling against the space debris that would be possible by means of deploying the huge metallic petals onboard the Space Elevator’s cabin moving along the cable.

Introduction

The space debris is the objects in orbit around Earth created by humans that no longer serve any useful purpose. They consist of everything from entire spent rocket stages and defunct satellites to explosion fragments, paint flakes, dust and slag from solid rocket motors, and other small particles that are much more dangerous since it is more difficult to oversee them than large objects.

Since the beginning of the Space Age in 1957 a great amount of satellites have been sent into space and this increasing number is/will be (especially in future) a great problem.