Study on harpooning metal anchors for capturing space debris of various sizes.

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K04572
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 24010:Aerospace engineering-related
• Research Institution: 防衛大学校(総合教育学群、人文社会科学群、応用科学群、電気情報学群及びシステム工学群)
• Principal Investigator: Hiroaki Tanaka 防衛大学校(総合教育学群、人文社会科学群、応用科学群、電気情報学群及びシステム工学群), システム工学群, 教授 (90532002)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: スペースデブリ / 宇宙ゴミ除去 / Active Debris Removal / 金属製銛 / Harpoon

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An experimental system for harpooning a metal anchor to free-falling rotating targets was developed, and experiments were carried out. The corresponding numerical models were also developed. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results for fixed and free-falling targets. It was found that Johnson-Cook models can be applied for simulating the penetration behaviors of harpooning a metal anchor to a debris structure. Then, we investigated the effects of the shapes of harpoon tips on penetration behavior. Four types of harpoon tips were employed, and their penetration behaviors were compared. By comparison, it was revealed that the conical tip was suitable for the harpoon method.

Free Research Field

スペースデブリ，宇宙構造，宇宙システム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在，宇宙開発においてスペースデブリが大きな問題となり，能動的なデブリ除去の重要性が増している．本研究は，能動的なデブリ除去において金属製銛を用いてデブリを捕獲することを目指したものであり，本捕獲方法の適用範囲や効率的な銛形状に関する知見を得るなど，社会的にも有意義な結果が得られている．また，この研究では世界初の試みとして自由落下中の固定されていない構造物への金属銛撃ち込み試験装置を開発，実験を行っており，従来評価できていなかった挙動評価を行うなど学術的意義も大きい．