Redemption: An experiment on sounding rocket to test a system for actival debris removal - Rexus12

REDEMPTION (REmoval of DEbris using Material with Phase Transition: IONospherical tests) is a student experiment aiming to propose a feasible solution for Active Debris Removal. Completely conceived, designed and realised within the Space Robotic Laboratory (SRL) of the second Faculty of Engineering of Bologna University "ALMA MATER STUDIORUM", REDEMPTION was selected to participate in REXUS/BEXUS 2012 Programme. This programme was realised under a bilateral Agency Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). The Swedish share of the payload was made available to students from other European countries through collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). REDEMPTION experiment base-concept is definitely up-to-date, as at the moment space debris problem is one of the most challenging space research fields: currently the situation of debris population is quite critical, because every new collision produces at its time other satellite fragments, raising the total number of debris and making the probability of a new impact more likely (the Kessler-Syndrome). Due to the complexity of the task, no feasible solution has been found so far. One of the most critical aspects to be solved in debris removal framework is how to connect the debris to be removed to the cleaner satellite. On this matter, through REDEMPTION experiment, students aim to evaluate the feasibility of an ADR system based on a polyurethane foam. The foam under evaluation is generated starting from two liquid reagents, which need to be mixed to produce a polymeric structure that after a short time becomes solid and rigid. The opportunity to launch the experiment onboard REXUS rocket allowed verifying the behaviour of the foam in near space conditions, that is, milli-gravity and vacuum conditions. REDEMPTION flew in the space on board of REXUS 12 Rocket on the 19th March 2012. In this paper the educational aspects of the project and the technical details regarding the three sub-experiments which constitute REDEMPTION module are depicted. As well, the results of the launch campaign are discussed, drawing the conclusions of the project.