EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,
Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing (NYSE: BA) company,
successfully demonstrated the ability of deployable tether
technology to significantly reduce the time a satellite remains on
orbit after service life completion.
"Thousands of satellites will launch over the next decade,
creating serious congestion in low Earth orbit," said Patrick Kelly, Ph.D., Dragracer program manager
at Millennium Space Systems. "What we've proven is a way to safely
and deliberately deorbit retired satellites."
Dragracer is the first direct comparison of a drag tape on two
identical satellites. The satellite outfitted with a 70m Terminator Tape® developed by
Tethers Unlimited, burned upon reentry to Earth's atmosphere after
eight months. The satellite without tape will naturally deorbit
unaided on its journey back to Earth after at least seven
years.
"If a satellite has a two-year operational life, you're looking
at a big piece of space debris sticking around for potentially
decades," said Kelly. "With drag tape, we significantly reduce the
time it remains space debris, and it's one less piece of debris to
track."
The Terminator Tape® creates additional surface area
that interacts with the Earth's atmosphere to create drag, which
draws satellites back to Earth faster. The tape is deployed with a
simple mechanism when a satellite is ready to de-orbit. And,
because the tape is so lightweight, it has no effect on the
satellite's primary mission.
"Dragracer is the first complete demonstration of safe and rapid
deorbit of a satellite by the Terminator Tape Deorbit Module," said
Robert Hoyt, president of Tethers
Unlimited. "The Terminator Tape is an affordable, lightweight,
patented, and now flight-proven solution for responsible
end-of-mission disposal of satellites to help ensure the long-term
sustainability of space operations."
Millennium Space designed and developed Dragracer in just nine
months – and Dragracer then launched from Auckland, New Zealand, November 19, 2020. The program was a
collaborative effort with Tethers Unlimited, mission launch service
provider TriSept and launch vehicle provider Rocket Lab.
Media Contact:
Dana Carroll, vice president,
Marketing
Millennium Space Systems
dana.carroll@millennium-space.com
About Millennium Space Systems
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, delivers
high-performing prototype and constellation solutions across
advanced national security and environmental observation missions.
Founded in 2001, the company's small satellite missions support
government, civil and commercial space customers' needs across
orbits.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/millennium-space-systems-demonstrates-deployable-tape-technology-301360005.html
SOURCE Millennium Space Systems