Communications satellite boosted to its operational orbit by an RLV using a Hoytether

1. High Strength-to-Weight Tapered Hoytether for LEO to GEO Payload Transport Small Business Innovation Research TETHERS UNLIMITED CLINTON, WA INNOVATION Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) has developed and fabricated tether structures capable of operating in Earth space for periods of many years while providing high reliability for survival of the orbital debris environment. Applications include payload transport from LEO to higher orbits and electrodynamic deorbit of defunct satellites and upper stages. • ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Tethers Unlimited, Inc. has developed a tether called the “Hoytether” that has multiple, interconnected lines in an open, net-like structure. This structure provides redundant load-bearing paths that enables it to be safely operated at high stress levels and still survive impacts by small orbital debris. Tests and modeling indicate that the tether can operate at 60% of the ultimate load bearing capacity of the tether material while providing better than 99% probability of survival for periods of many years. • COMMERCIALIZATION • TUI is developing a system called the “Terminator Tether” that will use electrodynamic tether drag to deorbit defunct communications satellites and spent upper stages from LEO. This system has the potential to greatly reduce the cost of deorbiting satellites to mitigate the growth of orbital debris. • TUI is also developing concepts under a NASA contract for a micrometeoroid-survivable, low drag tether for experimental studies of the upper atmosphere. Communications satellite boosted to its operational orbit by an RLV using a Hoytether • GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS • Orbital transfer vehicles • Deorbit of LEO satellites and upper stages • Reboost of the International Space Station Marshall Space Flight Center 1995 Phase 1; SS#: 8-002; 2/18/98 NAS8-40690; Rob Hoyt