Self-Contained Orbit Termination Tool (SCOTT)

随着航天工业从大型、昂贵、寿命长的航天器转向较小、廉价、持续时间短的航天器，将获得许多优势，从更好的科学返回到更好的进入太空。然而，随着进入空间的机会的增加，流行的轨道上挤满了废弃的航天器，由于缺乏综合推进系统(由于其低成本设计)，这些航天器无法自行离开轨道。这些废弃的航天器对运行中的航天器(无论是载人的还是无人的)构成严重的碰撞危险。航天工业需要一种廉价和自给自足的工具，将报废的和可能发生故障的航天器从轨道上移走，以减少灾难性碰撞的威胁。 该提案引入了自给自足的轨道终止工具(SCOTT)。斯科特的设计是利用附加制造技术以低廉的成本制造的，它将从一个完全独立的设备提供轨道和姿态(指向方向)确定和控制能力。这项研究项目将研究再入航天器的轨道动力学，并结合精确引导再入所需推力和安全处置航天器所需的指向控制。这项工作还将模拟和制作小型自给式火箭发动机的推力产生和推力矢量能力的原型，该发动机可以添加到任何航天器上。 马尼托巴大学的两名硕士学生将与马尼托巴省领先的添加剂制造公司Precision ADM的工程师密切合作，利用尖端的金属添加剂制造技术开发Scott的工作原型，从而生产出重量轻、成本低但精确制造的产品。除了为小型航天器提供脱轨能力外，Scott还为Precision ADM扩展到航空航天市场提供了新的商机。

With the space industry shifting from large, expensive and long-lived spacecraft towards smaller, inexpensive and short duration spacecraft, there are many advantages to be gained, ranging from better science return to improved access to space. However, as access to space improves, popular orbits are becoming cluttered with spent spacecraft that are not able to remove themselves from orbit due to their lack of an integrated propulsion system (owing to their low-cost design). These spent spacecraft pose a serious collision hazard to operational spacecraft (both manned and un-manned). The space industry needs an inexpensive and self-contained tool for removing spent and potentially failed spacecraft from orbit to reduce the threat of catastrophic collisions. This proposal introduces the Self-Contained Orbit Termination Tool (SCOTT). Designed to be inexpensively manufactured using additive manufacturing technology, SCOTT will provide both orbit and attitude (pointing direction) determination and control capability from one entirely self-contained device. This research project will study the orbital dynamics of re-entering spacecraft, in combination with the pointing control required to accurately direct the thrust required for re-entry and safe spacecraft disposal. This work will also simulate and prototype the thrust generation and thrust vectoring capability of a small self-contained rocket engine that could be added to any spacecraft. Working closely with engineers from Precision ADM, a leading additive manufacturing company in Manitoba, two MSc students from the University of Manitoba will develop a working prototype of SCOTT, using cutting-edge metal additive manufacturing technology that will result in a light-weight, inexpensive yet precisely manufactured product. In addition to providing de-orbit capability for small spacecraft, SCOTT represents a new business opportunity for Precision ADM as they expand into the aerospace market.