Topic：Active Space Debris Removal by Electrodynamic Tethers

Lecturer：Zheng H. Zhu（York University, Canada）

Time：December.14,2021, 10:00AM-11:00AM (GMT+08:00)

Location：Tencent Meeting ID：367460968

Organizers：College of Aerospace Engineering, International Cooperation Office

Abstract：Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) technology is a new type of propellentless propulsion technology that can lower or boost spacecraft orbits without consuming propellant. The EDT technology is based on two fundamental principles of electromagnetism: electrical current is produced when a conductive wire moves through a magnetic field, and the field exerts a force on the current carrying wire. One of the most appealing application of EDT is the space debris removal due to the advantages of propellentless, low mass, compact size, ease of use and low cost. This  seminar will review the history of space tether missions, discuss the physical principles of EDT, explore the challenges and opportunities in orbit maneuvous application, and showcase our EDT mission – DESCENT (DEorbiting SpaceCrafts using ElectrodyNamic Tethers) from mission concept study, to mission objectives, nanosatellite design, hardware selection, and operation. The satellite was launched into orbit in November 2020 and decommissioned by the end of September 2021.

Biography：

Zheng-hong Zhu received his BE, ME and PhD in Engineering Mechanics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He also received MASc in Robotics from Unviersity of Waterloo and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Toronto, all in Canada. Currently, he is the Professor and Tier I York Research Chair in Space Technology at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and inaugural Academic Director of Research Commons at the Office of Vice-President Research and Innovation, York University in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Zhu’s research focuses on Dynamics and control of space tether systems, space elevators, autonomous space robotics, space debris removal and computational mechanics. Dr. Zhu is the College Member of Royal Society of Canada, Academician of International Academy of Astronautics, Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of Engineering Institute of Canada, Fellow of Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering, Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Associate Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is the recipient of 2021 Robert W. Angus Medal of Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering and 2019 Ontario Professional Engineering Medal in Research and Development.

（朱正宏教授在上海交通大学获得工程力学学士、硕士和博士学位；后分别获得加拿大滑铁卢大学机器人学硕士学位和多伦多大学和机械工程博士学位。现任约克大学机械工程系教授，Tier I York Research Chair和研究与创新副校长办公室学术主任。研究方向包括空间绳系系统的动力学与控制、太空电梯、自主空间机器人、空间碎片清除和计算力学。朱教授是加拿大皇家学会会员、国际宇航科学院院士、加拿大工程院院士、加拿大工程研究院院士、加拿大机械工程学会会士、美国机械工程师学会会士和美国航空航天学会副会士;2021 年获加拿大机械工程学会Robert W. Angus Medal；2019 年获Ontario Professional Engineering Medal）