Deorbit Systems

Sustainably safeguarding the future of space flight.

dragNET De-orbit System

With funding from an Air Force SBIR, MMA developed and successfully demonstrated a system to remove satellites from orbit — the dragNET De-orbit System. dragNET can be added to an existing spacecraft late in the integration stage and is easily scalable to various classes of vehicles.

The dragNET de-orbit system consists of compactly stowed, thin-film membranes that release using a single heater-powered actuator and stow in a box the size of a shoebox. Deployment is powered by releasing stored spring energy acting through articulating booms, and once tensioned, the 14 square-meter membranes create the necessary drag to passively deorbit the spacecraft or launch vehicle. Although it only weighs about six pounds, the system can bring down a 181 kg, ESPA-class spacecraft from altitudes of about 850 km.

dragNET De-orbit System Case Study

Download MORE information about the dragNET De-orbit System

FCC 5-year Rule

De-orbiting spacecraft and launch vehicle upper stages has once again become a hot topic of conversation since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that satellites ending their mission in, or passing through, LEO must deorbit as soon as reasonably feasible but no later than five years after its mission is complete. This new rule significantly shortens the previous guideline set forth by NASA in the 90s which recommended that satellites de-orbit within 25-years, or else move into a graveyard orbit for safe storage.

MMA’s dragNET De-orbit System is flight qualified, having deorbited the upper stage of the ORS-3 Minotaur in about 2 years after its launch back in 2013 — an historic accomplishment!

Learn MORE about how to deorbit your spacecraft

Sustainably safeguarding the future of space flight.

dragNET De-orbit System

Download MORE information about the dragNET De-orbit System

FCC 5-year Rule

MORE MMA Solutions