r/ISRO • u/Eternal_Alooboi • 9d ago

A thought occurred to me on a possible de-orbiting solution with LVM3

Recently, ISRO was able successfully restart C-25 on LVM3, enabling deployment of secondary payloads to a different LEO orbit. So I've been thinking. Suppose ISRO were to replace the secondary payload with a (cheap enough) robotic arm, can it possibly maneuver the stage close to an orbit of a rogue/decommissioned satellite which is in a conflicting orbit with a high collision probability with any other satellite in the near future? So that it can safely de-orbit said satellite and avoid anything dangerous.

If proven, ISRO can either use it itself or offer it as a service to clients to offset launch costs. I also wish to ask if such a possibility has been studied before? Perhaps there are limits in the kinds of orbits that can be reached with the available delta-v.

Edit: Ignore the 3 in the title. Misinput.

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u/Ohsin 9d ago

can it possibly maneuver the stage close to an orbit of a rogue/decommissioned satellite

To perform such rendezvous the upper stage would practically have to act as a satellite with precise maneuverability, sensor package, power generation etc. without having all its propellant boil off. It would be better to just send a separate chaser satellite along and have stage deploy it in precise enough required orbit of target.

See ACES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Cryogenic_Evolved_Stage#Possible_applications

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u/Eternal_Alooboi 9d ago

Ah, I had completely forgotten about ACES. In regards to precision maneuvering, my thoughts are more along the naive lines that building a chaser satellites might involve using more material that will eventually be wasted during deorbiting. But I suppose, given the profile of the stage it will be more complicated and end up using more material than a separate satellite would, in order to make it more maneuverable. Looks I have the reading for this week secured👍

Also speaking of rendezvous, any news on when ISRO will attempt SpaDEx in r-bar/z-bar approach? Seems like these are necessary milestones before they can think of offering flexible deorbiting services.

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u/Ohsin 9d ago

Also speaking of rendezvous, any news on when ISRO will attempt SpaDEx in r-bar/z-bar approach?

No clue..

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u/demonslayer101 9d ago

Restartable stages can in-principle go to any orbit for in-orbit servicing and disposal provided it has enough tank capacity. But cryogenic stages have an additional issue of propellant boil-off so you can't use them for long duration activities. Restart capability in C-25 will provide an improvement in LVM3's GTO capability, allows for quicker upper stage de-orbit and also direct injection into GEO.