Cleanspace One is a Swiss company that produces technology for cleaning up space debris. The company was founded in 2008 by a group of scientists and engineers from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). The company’s mission is to develop technologies to clean up the increasing amount of space debris, which poses a threat to satellites and astronauts.
Cleanspace One’s first product is the CleanSpace Tag, a device that attaches to pieces of space debris and causes them to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The company has also developed the CleanSpace Launcher, a small satellite that can be used to capture and remove larger pieces of debris. In 2015, Cleanspace One launched its first prototype into orbit, and the company plans to launch a full-scale version in 2018.
The problem of space debris has become increasingly pressing in recent years, as the amount of man-made objects in orbit around Earth has grown exponentially. There are an estimated 170 million pieces of debris floating in space, including everything from spent rocket stages to bits of paint chips shed by satellites. This junk threatens active spacecraft and astronauts; collisions with even small pieces of debris can cause major damage or even destroy satellites. In addition, the growing amount of space junk makes it more difficult and expensive to launch new spacecraft into orbit.
Cleanspace One is addressing this problem with innovative technology that can capture and remove existingspace junk from orbit. The key components of the system are the CleanSpace Tagand CleanSpace Launcher.
The CleanSpace Tagis a small device that attaches itself to larger piecesof space junk using magnets or Velcro strips. Once attached,the tag uses an onboard propellantto push the object outof its current orbitand into Earth’s atmospherewhere it will burn up harmlessly upon reentry.. This systemcan be used for relatively large piecesof junk like abandoned satellitesor rocket stages..
In order for the device to work properly, it must be ableto attach itself firmlyto the surfaceof the target object.. It also needsa propulsion system strong enoughto movethe object outof its current orbitbut not so powerfulthat it shattersthe target object.. Finally,the device must havea guidance systemthat will ensureit entersEarth’s atmosphereat justthe right anglefor safe reentryand destruction..
The other key componentof Cleanspace One’s systemis theCleanSpace Launcher.. This is a small satellitethat is designedto captureand removelarger piecesof derelictdebrisin muchthe same wayas terrestrial garbage trucksremove trashfrom city streets.. Insteadof usingmagneticsto attachitself totarget objects,, however,, thistechnologyusesa robotic armtograsp holdofthe pieceof debristhenusesits onboardpropulsion systemto towit backinto Earth’s atmosphereto be destroyedupon reentryas well..
Launchinga single satellitedoes not soundlike muchin terms offixed costs,, but keepin mindthatthesatellite does not needto becapableofflying forever– onlyuntil all currentlyorbiting piecesspending fuelhavebeen removedwhich would take years if done one at time . Also note that many countries have expressed interestthis type oftotalsystembecauseif successfulwould result considerablereductionfutureoperationalcosts ..
Reusablecraftare becomingmore commontoday,, butthey are stillfar too expensiveright nowfor most commercialapplications., EvenNASA isn’tusingthem very oftenbecausemost missionsdon’t warranttheir high cost., But what if we couldmakereusablecraftcheaper? What if therewas some waytoo cut downon their operationalcosts?, Thatis whereCleanspaceOne comesin .. With their uniquetagsandsatellites,, theyhave createdsystemthat couldpotentially makereusablecraftmuch more affordableby drastically reducingfuel requirementsand maintenancecostsparticularly over long periodsof time .. Andnot onlywould thistype oftotalsystembe good forcapturingexistingdebris,, butcouldalsobe usedtopreventfuture generationsfrom havingtoclearup after usas well…