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Removing large orbital debris in a safe, robust, and cost-effective manner is a long-standing challenge, having serious implications for LEO satellite safety and access to space. Many studies have focused on the deorbit of spent rocket bodies (R/Bs) as an achievable and high-priority first step. However, major difficulties arise from the R/Bs' residual tumble and lack of traditional docking/grasping...
We explore the use of grippers with gecko-inspired adhesives for spacecraft docking and acquisition of tumbling objects in microgravity. Towards the goal of autonomous object manipulation in space, adhesive grippers mounted on planar free-floating platforms are shown to be tolerant of a broad range of incoming linear and angular velocities. Through modeling, simulations, and experiments, we characterize...