Space Environment Modeling and Deorbiting Efficiency Analysis for Electro-dynamic Tether System

The electro-dynamic tether system, which could generate electro-dynamic force during on-orbit period, is a novel and efficient spacecraft deorbiting system. In this paper, the space environment modeling and off-orbit efficiency analysis of the bare electro-dynamic tether based deorbiting system is investigated. Firstly, the geomagnetic field model and ionospheric model are established, based on which the electric force generated by bare rope is calculated. Furthermore, the models of atmospheric resistance, earth non-spherical perturbation and other environmental perturbation are also established. Then, numerical simulation for the deorbiting process of the electro-dynamic tether system is carried out under different orbital heights, orbital inclines and lengths respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of relative factors to the system is analyzed based on the simulation results.