Theoretic Analysis on a New Technique of Dust-based Active Debris Removal

It is believed that the number of debris located near Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has approached the tipping point, which is the threshold for collision cascade. The Active Debris Removal (ADR) has come to be very necessary. Method on a new technique for cleaning space junk at the low earth orbit through dust-based ADR system has been proposed and researched by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. In this paper, special theoretical analysis on the new method is made. Firstly, the basic hypothesis and interaction mechanism models between single fraction and artificial dust are built, and the interaction results are calculated and analyzed quantitatively. Then, space debris density distribution is analyzed, the action effect of the new method is studied, and some basic conclusions are obtained. These results will help to understand the new method objectively.