Active Space Debris Removal: Feasibility and Comparative Analysis of Methods for Diverse Targets

The rapid growth of orbital debris presents an escalating challenge to spacecraft safety and the long-term sustainability of low Earth orbit. While end-of-life and collision-avoidance measures can limit new debris generation, they do little to address the expanding population of inactive satellites, rocket bodies, and fragments already in orbit. To confront this issue, we must turn toward Active Debris Removal (ADR): mission-level interventions designed to capture, stabilize, and deorbit existing objects.

This paper provides a comparative review of seven representative ADR methods, categorized into contact-based and non-contact systems. Each approach is evaluated through a set of parameters including capture mechanics, sensing and guidance architecture, control and stability requirements, power and propulsion demands, and mission scalability. The review integrates experimental and simulation data from major demonstrations in each category, notably Astroscale’s ELSA-d mission and JAXA’s electrodynamic tether program, while also drawing on smaller-scale studies that explore additional ADR techniques.

Through this analysis, the paper investigates how operational and technical constraints influence the performance and applicability of current ADR technologies, providing a foundation for ongoing development toward more effective debris-removal solutions.