Development of an eddy current brake system for detumbling malfunctioning satellites

Abstract

This paper proposes a new method to detumble uncontrolled large space debris such as malfunctioning satellites. There are many researches about a space robot capturing and deorbiting space debris. However it is generally very difficult to capture tumbling targets such as the malfunctioning satellites because these targets are out of control in attitude and rotate with nutational motion. Hence we propose a new way to detumble them with an eddy current brake. The eddy current brake can detumble the uncontrolled targets without any contact. In this paper, we describe design and development of a linear induction motor type of eddy current brake. Experimental verification is carried out to verify the performance of the developed eddy current brake in order to fulfill the requirement for detumbling the uncontrolled satellite.