Redemption: A student experiment proposing a solution to Active Debris Removal

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 con-ceived, designed and realised within the Space Robotic Laboratory (SRL) of the II Faculty of Engineering of the University of Bologna "ALMA MATER STUDIORUM", REDEMPTION has been selected to participate to REXUS/BEXUS 2012 Programme. This programme is 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 has been made available to students from other European countries through a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). The REDEMPTION experiment base-concept seems up-to-date, as at the moment space debris problem is one of the most challenging space research fields: at the moment the situation of debris population is quite critical, because every new collision produces in its turn other satellite fragments, increasing the total number of debris and the probability of new impacts (the so-called 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 missions, 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 polyurethanic foam. The foam under evaluation is generated starting from two liquid reagents, that need to be mixed to produce a polymeric structure, that after a short time becomes solid and rigid. The opportunity to launch the experiment on board the REXUS rocket allows to verify the behaviour of the foam in near space conditions, that is milli-gravity and vacuum conditions. In this paper the educational aspects of the project is depicted, as well as the technical details regarding the three sub-experiments which constitute the REDEMPTION module. Moreover, the results of the launch campaign will be discussed, drawing the conclusions of the project.