ERAU Professor Invents Space Debris Solution | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Fri, Nov 26, 2021

ERAU Professor Invents Space Debris Solution

“A Workable Strategy” for Eliminating Space Debris

An Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor and his co-inventors patented a workable, functional solution to the prevention of spaceborne debris accumulation. Named the Drag De-Orbit Device, or D3, the system is designed to guide small satellites out of Earth orbit into the atmosphere where they burn up in re-entry. The increased usage of private and commercial satellites, even smaller ones for cheap research experiments, presents an ongoing risk for all

 orbital equipment. High-speed space flotsam can function similar to buckshot circling the globe, blocking off orbital stations or tracks from future use. 

The inventor, Dr. Riccardo Bevilacqua, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at the university, saying “The D3 helps solve the problem of space debris by safely steering the atmospheric re-entry and demise of low-Earth orbit spacecraft.” His work piqued the interest of Orbotic Systems, a space debris specialist, and led to their licensing of his tech. “We are confident we will see the D3 attracting the attention of the private sector, given future plans on injecting thousands of small spacecraft into low orbits — for Earth observation, providing global internet and much more,” he said. “I would expect things to ramp up in the next five years or less.”

The D3 is a 10 by 10 by 5 centimeter system that mounts on the back of a satellite to connect with its flight control system. Using independently deployable and retractable booms, it can adjust its incoming trajectory while returning to earth, skimming the atmosphere so it can create a de-orbit track away from populated areas. It can double as a collision avoidance maneuvering system while in space, a bonus for satellite designers hoping for more control over their systems even after their deployment. 

Bevilacqua and graduate student Nicolo Woodward will begin the integration of new electronics into the system in preparation for test flights beginning in late spring 2022. 

FMI: www.orboticsystems.com, www.erau.edu

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.11.25)

“Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let’s launch.” Source: SecTrans Sean Duffy commenting after President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Secret>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.11.25): Permanent Echo

Permanent Echo Radar signals reflected from fixed objects on the earth's surface; e.g., buildings, towers, terrain. Permanent echoes are distinguished from “ground clutter&rd>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.11.25)

Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Schweizer SGS 2-33A

Glider Encountered A Loss Of Lift And There Was Not Sufficient Altitude To Reach The Airport Analysis: The flight instructor reported that while turning final, the glider encounter>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Aeronca 7AC

Airplane Climbed To 100 Ft Above Ground Level, At Which Time The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power On May 24, 2025, at 1300 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC