Draco set to capture data during satellite destruction

Draco set to capture data during satellite destruction
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Sep 25, 2024

For nearly 70 years of spaceflight, around 10,000 satellites and rocket bodies have reentered Earth's atmosphere, with many more to follow. However, what happens to a satellite during its final moments of destruction remains unclear.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (Draco) mission, designed to capture unique in-flight data during a satellite's reentry and breakup. A specially built capsule will survive the destruction, transmitting critical telemetry shortly after the event.

Deimos has signed a euro 3 million contract to begin the satellite's development, with the Draco mission targeted for launch in 2027 as part of ESA's Space Safety program.

Reentries and Space Debris Prevention
Rapid removal of satellites from orbit is essential to prevent space debris. ESA aims to achieve a "Zero Debris" policy by 2030, emphasizing the need for quick satellite reentry post-mission. Some satellites are built for controlled reentries, while others require assistance to meet Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines.

"We need to gain more insight into what happens when satellites burn up in the atmosphere as well as validate our re-entry models," says Holger Krag, ESA Head of Space Safety. "Draco will help guide the development of technologies for more demisable satellites by 2030."

Reentries also impact the atmosphere, prompting research into the environmental effects of particles and by-products formed as spacecraft disintegrate. Understanding these impacts will lead to more sustainable satellite designs.

Capturing the Satellite's Final Moments
"Even if it's hard to get data from a satellite throughout its destruction, it is currently impossible to recreate the exact circumstances on the ground. We can use experimentation to test various materials and elements of a spacecraft in wind tunnels at a limited scale," says Stijn Lemmens, Draco project manager in the ESA Space Debris Office. Testing materials in wind tunnels helps, but cannot fully replicate the velocity and forces of an uncontrolled reentry. Virtual modeling can provide a more detailed imitation but requires calibration, which the Draco mission aims to provide.

Draco's destructible satellite will include an indestructible pod equipped with sensors and cameras to collect data on temperature, pressure, and strain during reentry. This technology will offer a comprehensive dataset to refine future satellite designs.

The Draco Mission
The Draco satellite, weighing approximately 200 kg, will mimic an average low-Earth orbit satellite's uncontrolled reentry. Without a propulsion or communication system, it will rely on its launch vehicle's steering to align for reentry. The satellite will record data over 12 hours and at altitudes of up to 1000 km before burning up in the atmosphere.

After the satellite's destruction, the capsule will face its final challenge: deploying a parachute and transmitting its data via a geostationary satellite. The telemetry will be sent within a 20-minute window before the capsule splashes into the ocean.

"Draco is an exciting mission that will shine a light on many of the unknowns during satellite reentries. The irony is that the development of its spacecraft and capsule would benefit most of all from the data it will collect," says Tim Flohrer, Head of Space Debris Office at ESA.