Contactless de-tumbling of the uncooperative targets using arc-linear electromagnetic device

The contactless electromagnetic de-tumbling method does not have physical contact with the uncooperative space targets and can avoid generating new space debris. Due to pollution-free and high safety performance advantages, this method has a tremendous prospect in the application of de-tumbling the uncooperative space targets. In this paper, an improved arc-linear electromagnetic device and its corresponding de-tumbling method are presented based on the principle of electromagnetic eddy current, which is mainly used for the uncooperative space targets. The analytical model of the electromagnetic device is obtained by introducing the Carter and Russel-Norsworthy coefficients and validated by the finite element method (FEM). Then, the effect on the de-tumbling torque with different electromagnetic parameters is further analyzed. Finally, the three-dimensional dynamic simulation of the uncooperative space target is carried out. The results show that the uncooperative space target can be de-tumbled in a short time by the proposed contactless electromagnetic de-tumbling device.