SATELLITE DE-ORBITING SYSTEM
A satellite de-orbiting device including at least one thruster, at least one sensor, and a controller configured to communicate with the at least one thruster and the at least one sensor. The de-orbiting device is configured to be attached to a satellite, and the at least one sensor is operable to communicate signals to the controller that are representative of at least one of temperature of a satellite, position of a satellite, movement characteristics of a satellite, or communication status of a satellite. The controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster for de-orbiting based on at least one of the temperature, the position, the movement characteristics, or the communication status.
1 . A satellite de-orbiting device comprising:
at least one thruster;
at least one sensor;
a controller configured to communicate with the at least one thruster and the at least one sensor, wherein
the de-orbiting device is configured to be attached to a satellite,
the at least one sensor is operable to communicate signals to the controller that are representative of at least one of temperature of a satellite, position of a satellite, movement characteristics of a satellite, or communication status of a satellite, and
the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster for de-orbiting based on at least one of the temperature, the position, the movement characteristics, or the communication status.
2 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the signals are representative of the temperature.
3 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the temperature being below a temperature threshold for a continuous length of time that is greater than a temperature time threshold.
4 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor includes an infrared camera.
5 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the signals are representative of the position and the movement characteristics.
6 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the position and the movement characteristics deviating from an orbital parameter data for a continuous length of time that is greater than an orbital parameter time threshold.
7 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 5 , wherein the movement characteristics comprise an acceleration, the signals represent the acceleration, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the acceleration being zero for a continuous length of time that is greater than an acceleration time threshold.
8 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the signals are representative of the communication status, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the communication status indicating an absence of outbound communication for a continuous length of time that is greater than an outbound communication time threshold.
9 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the de-orbiting device further includes a battery connected to the controller and the at least one sensor.
10 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , further comprising an electric current sensor operable to communicate current signals that are representative of a status of an electrical system to the controller, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the status of the electrical system indicating an absence of electrical activity for a continuous length of time that is greater than an electrical activity time threshold.
11 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a timer that has an expiration time period, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the expiration time period elapsing.
12 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured receive a periodic satellite health signal, the presence of which is indicative of satellite operability, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to an absence the satellite health signal for a continuous length of time that is greater than a health signal time threshold.
13 . The satellite de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive avoidance signals that are indicative of a potential collision, and the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to the avoidance signals.
14 . The de-orbiting device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster in response to an external instruction signal.
15 . A method for de-orbiting a satellite comprising:
monitoring at least one of a temperature of a satellite, position of a satellite, movement characteristics of a satellite, or communication status of a satellite; and
initiating a de-orbiting sequence responsive to at least one of:
the temperature being below a temperature threshold for a continuous length of time that is greater than a temperature time threshold,
the position and the movement characteristics deviating from an orbital parameter data for a continuous length of time that is greater than an orbital parameter time threshold, or
the communication status indicating an absence of outbound communication for a continuous length of time that is greater than an outbound communication time threshold.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching a de-orbiting device to a satellite.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the monitoring includes using a sensor on the de-orbiting device to communicate signals that are representative of the temperature, the position, the movement characteristics, or the communication status to a de-orbiting device controller;
the initiating includes the de-orbiting device controller initiating the de-orbiting sequence based on the signals; and
the de-orbiting sequence includes activating a thruster on the de-orbiting device.
18 . A system comprising:
a satellite;
a de-orbiting device attached to the satellite, the de-orbiting device including:
at least one thruster,
at least one sensor, and
a controller communicating with the at least one thruster and the at least one sensor, wherein
the at least one sensor is operable to communicate signals to the controller that are representative of at least one of temperature of the satellite, position of the satellite, movement characteristics of the satellite, or communication status of the satellite, and
the controller is configured to activate the at least one thruster for de-orbiting based on at least one of the temperature, the position, the movement characteristics, or the communication status.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the satellite includes a satellite controller, and wherein the controller of the de-orbiting device is autonomous relative to the satellite controller.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the satellite includes at least one thruster, the at least one thruster of the de-orbiting device including a higher thrust rating than the at least one thruster of the satellite.