Deployment Dynamics of Tethered Space Net Based on Contact Behaviour

Tethered Space Net (TSN) is one of the most promising solutions for active space debris removal. However, due to the flexibility, its deployment dynamics is complex and not completely understood. Moreover, the purpose of research on deployment dynamics is to draw some conclusions about preferable releasing conditions, which can make the net successfully wrap the target after contacting the target. Therefore, in this paper, a different way, the contact behavior based opinion, is proposed to analyze the deployment dynamics of TSN. Three critical contact parameters are put forward and influence of initial deployment conditions on these three parameters is investigated by simulation results. Finally, some conclusions for preferable releasing condition are given for TSN based on three critical contact parameters.