Cleaning Up the Final Frontier: Embry-Riddle Researchers Develop Net Mechanism to Catch Space Debris

With damaging strikes by accumulating space debris a serious threat to space missions and exploration, Embry-Riddle researchers are developing a mechanism that can snag the debris with nets and tow it toward Earth’s atmosphere to burn up on reentry.

“What's most exciting about this project is that it offers a practical and elegant way to clean up space,” said Dr. Daewon Kim, professor of Aerospace Engineering. “It's a simple idea powered by advanced engineering, turning the vision of catching and removing space junk into something real and achievable.”

Space debris refers to any man-made objects in space that are no longer in use, including inactive satellites, spent rocket stages and other abandoned hardware. Of the approximately 28,000 orbiting objects being tracked by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, only about 4,000 are operational satellites. The remaining pieces of space junk travel at speeds of up to 28,000 km/hour and, relative to a person in orbit, move about ten times faster than a bullet.

The system being developed by Kim, director of the Structures & Materials through Additive & Reconfigurable Technology Lab, and Dr. Morad Nazari, associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and director of the Dynamics and Control Systems Laboratory, will be capable of collecting debris of between 5 and 50 centimeters in size with the current model, and potentially up to 1 meter with future systems.

The research, a collaboration with Orbotic Systems Inc., is being supported by a subaward of nearly $408,500 from the NASA Small Business Innovation Research program.

Sahasra Boyapati, a master’s student in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in structures and materials, is working on the design, fabrication and testing of the system.

She explained that the system is like a small cube satellite with two nets stored inside of it. The net launch mechanism is spring-loaded and shoots the nets out toward debris. The first net, not attached to the satellite, slows and stabilizes the debris. The second, which is attached to the satellite, captures the debris and holds on to it.

The researchers explained that the device would be launched to an area where there is debris, and onboard sensors would measure the location of the debris relative to the spacecraft. Control algorithms developed by Nazari will determine how to rotate the spacecraft toward the debris in order to capture it. Although space debris travels very fast, contributing to its potential to pierce and damage structures in space, the spacecraft outfitted with the net mechanism would be deployed to an orbit close to the debris’ orbit and would move at a similar speed.

Once the debris is captured, “the whole system deorbits and burns up in space,” Boyapati said.

While the system can therefore only be used once, Kim said the team is working to make the launch mechanism as small as possible to minimize the system's cost. He also pointed out that removing debris offsets the expense of damage caused by fragmentation.

“If a piece of space debris collides with another object or debris, it can generate additional shrapnel, potentially leading to more collisions,” he said. “Removing debris and allowing it to burn up can ultimately be less costly and more effective in protecting orbiting space assets.”

Boyapati said working on the RIDDANCE project has given her an opportunity “to contribute to something that matters.”

“It allows me to do work that benefits society while also pushing me to grow as an aerospace engineer,” she added. “It directly strengthens the skills and mindset I need for my path. This experience will shape me both technically and professionally.”

Dr. Jim Gregory, dean of the College of Engineering at the Daytona Beach Campus, said “Dr. Kim and Dr. Nazari are innovating at the leading edge of aerospace research and development to make low Earth orbit a cleaner and safer operating environment. Their work exemplifies the excellence of Embry-Riddle faculty, where teams of faculty and students work together to translate ideas into practice.”