Satellites are expected to launch over the next 10 years. The risk of on-orbit collision, and the resulting orbital debris field, places the cislunar economy at risk.
Orbital debris has the potential to cause massive damage to satellites. If two satellites were to collide, thousands of pieces of debris would be created, making potential collisions even more likely. Therefore, to sustain the use of low Earth orbits, deorbiting inactive satellites within a reasonable timeframe is necessary.
Vestigo Aerospace offers a product line of dragsails to enable the timely deorbit of CubeSats, small satellites, and launch vehicle upper stages.
Dragsails are thin-membrane deployable structures that greatly increase the frontal area of the system, so that aerodymanic drag can accelerate orbital decay.
The "Spinnaker" product line utilizes standard mechanical and electrical interfaces to the host satellite, allowing straightforward integration.
The Communications Act requires a license for any commercial communications transmitted via satellite to, from and within the United States. All satellites must deorbit within 25 years after end-of-mission to qualify for this license.
Streamlined FCC Licensing
By deorbiting within 6 years, starting at launch, vehicles of 180 kg or less can qualify for streamlined FCC licensing. This process has a savings of over $400K per satellite on application fees, and a shorter review timeline.
Once deployed, Spinnaker dragsails are entirely passive, and accelerate deorbit without active control. Each unit is equipped with a power source and an adjustable timer. Dragsail deployment can occur autonomously at end-of-mission, or upon command from ground controllers.
Uncertainty on the time of reentry often spans multiple orbits, which results in satellite burnup not being constrained to a specific geographic region. For satellites in the deorbit phase and approaching reentry, dragsail deployment can be used to initiate atmospheric entry and constrain the entry corridor. By deploying the dragsail at low orbital altitudes, the step increase in surface area provides a drag force that can induce reentry within a fraction of an orbit period.
Deorbit Start: July 1, 2025 | Inclination: 98˚ | Deorbit Lifetime: 5 Years
| Initial Altitude (km) | Spinnaker2 Maximum Spacecraft Mass (kg) | Spinnaker3 Maximum Spacecraft Mass (kg) | Spinnaker4 Maximum Spacecraft Mass (kg) | Spinnaker5 Maximum Spacecraft Mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 450 | 2,410 | 5,295 | 9,327 | 14,487 |
| 475 | 1,524 | 3,351 | 5,904 | 9,172 |
| 500 | 975 | 2,145 | 3,782 | 5,876 |
| 525 | 629 | 1,387 | 2,447 | 3,803 |
| 550 | 409 | 905 | 1,598 | 2,485 |
| 575 | 268 | 596 | 1,054 | 1,639 |
| 600 | 177 | 395 | 700 | 1,091 |
| 625 | 117 | 264 | 470 | 733 |
| 650 | 78 | 178 | 318 | 496 |
| 675 | 52 | 120 | 217 | 340 |
| 700 | 34 | 82 | 149 | 235 |
| 725 | 22 | 56 | 103 | 164 |
| 750 | 14 | 38 | 72 | 115 |
| 775 | 9 | 26 | 51 | 82 |
| 800 | 5 | 18 | 36 | 59 |
Use our deorbit duration calculator to estimate how long it will take for your space vehicle to deorbit and see if you are likely to qualify for FCC licensing.
