Feasibility study of a nonexplosive net ejection mechanism for active space debris removal

In this paper, a net ejection mechanism is proposed for active debris removal (ADR) missions. A nonexplosive space-net–ejection mechanism is developed based on the spring restoration force. The key parameters and requirements for designing the ejector are defined, and a spring design satisfying these requirements is developed. Subsequently, a spring-based on-orbit net shooter is designed, and numerical investigations are performed through structural analyses. Finally, a downscaled net shooter is designed and fabricated for a ground demonstration to evaluate the performance of the proposed net shooter. The experimental observations validate the feasibility of the proposed net shooter for ADR missions.