Innovative Solutions for Satellite Conformity to Space Debris Mitigation

Abstract: This thesis presents the work I have accomplished during my 6 months internship in Altran Research more precisely inthe Space Innovation Unit in Cannes, France. This period as trainee was also the conclusion of the double degree program I followed in Aerospace Engineering at KTH, the Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm, Sweden. This report details every Space Safety related projects in which I have been involved. Every topic is related to the management of low earth orbit satellites disintegration during their atmospheric re-entry. Nowadays orbital pollution has pushed national space agencies to take the lead on space debris mitigation. There are currently more than twenty thousand objects of more than 10 cm constantly tracked from ground to avoid collision within-progress missions. This is implying expensive avoidance manoeuvres thus equipment and budget associated. Items shorter than 10 cm are even more numerous and they cannot be seen from ground so they are estimate by models. The debris population is threatening future missions and even launches if nothing is done to prevent/reduce the debrisformation. To avoid this catastrophic scenario, space agencies have developed and financed projects to prevent and reduce debris creation. In the meantime, risk on ground must be reduced to limit population injuries from falling object. Now satellites are designed/retro-designed to demise more, and in known ways, during uncontrolled re-entry. Software are also currently developed to simulate more precisely the complex aerothermal phenomenon of ablation duringatmospheric re-entry.