A Study on PMD Device for Microsatellites Using Electrodynamic Tether

A deorbit device is required for some microsatellites to meet space debris mitigation guidelines, although very challenging in terms of limited resources and reliability. The authors are conducting research on post-mission disposal (PMD) devices using an electrodynamic tether due to its high efficiency and simplicity. This PMD device consists of a tether deployment system, electron emitter, and integrated control system. The effectiveness of PMD devices were investigated by numerical simulation and ground experiments. The effects on the performance of various parameters were evaluated by numerical simulation in considering such precise models as those used for plasma density and geomagnetic field. We confirmed the effectiveness of the deployment system and the brake system by ground experiments. In this paper, the results of the initial study on a PMD device for microsatellites are presented.