Testing a novel satellite brake sail, dubbed ADEO-L, recently took place at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Bremen. The test on Monday was reportedly successful, with the large sail successfully deployed. This Munich-based space company HPS creation, set to be launched in space in 2024, aims to help combat the issue of space waste.
It's common for decommissioned satellites to take decades to burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, posing a threat to operational satellites and space travel. To expedite this process, a speed-up is required. The sail functions like a parachute, slowing down the satellite for a faster entry into the atmosphere and subsequent burn-up.
HPS, known for their brake sail technology, has previous experience with deploying these sails in space. Compared to ADEO-L, their prior sails were significantly smaller. Since 2015, DLR and HPS have collaborated on the development of these sails. With the announcement that ADEO-L will be widely available in a few years, large-scale satellite waste mitigation seems imminent.
Additional Insights
Drag sails, like ADEO-L, are highly effective at reducing space debris and accelerating the re-entry process of decommissioned satellites. They work by increasing atmospheric drag on spacecraft, which in turn speeds up their re-entry. The ADEO-L, developed by High Performance Space Structure Systems (HPS), is a scalable solution for larger satellites (100-700 kg) and even larger configurations (500-1500 kg) with sail areas ranging from 15 ± 5 m².
The drag sail technology is a part of passive deorbiting methods, which are simple, reliable, and require minimal power and mass. It works by reducing the satellites’ ballistic coefficient, boosting atmospheric drag and thus the re-entry speed.
Several successful mission demonstrations, such as the ADEO-N series and ADEO-L, have proven the effectiveness of dragon sails. Moreover, Exo-Brake technology, which is also used for deorbiting, shows that active control can optimize re-entry trajectories for precise disposal.
In late December 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) tested the ADEO break sail, showcasing its potential in reducing space debris through rapid satellite deorbiting.
These findings highlight the significant role of large satellite brake sails in addressing the growing space debris challenge, resulting in efficient and responsible space exploration.
