DARPA seeks industry input on controlled re-entry of LEO objects

摘要

The Pentagon s advanced research arm is seeking industry s input on the controlled re-entry or objects from low Earth orbit. In a May 3 notice, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said it will hold a workshop on June 1 to gather information on "near-term technologies and solutions for the controlled re-entry of objects from low Earth orbit (LEO)" and "long-term advanced concepts that could evolve from near-term capabilities." The objective of this workshop, which will take place at DARPA's conference center in Arlington, VA, is to "find ways to de-orbit inert objects in LEO with a minimum of cost, mass and operational impacts," according to the notice. Many LEO satellites count on "atmospheric drag to gradually degrade their orbits" until they break up. However, this tactic makes it hard to accurately predict, "meaning that there is typically little to no advance knowledge of when and where re-entry will occur, let alone what pieces will survive and where those pieces will land," according to the notice. In addition, this process is slow, contributing to space congestion.