Using Inflatable Structures to Remove Space Debris from Orbit

Every year the concentration of space debris is steadily growing, which significantly complicates the conduct of both modern and future space missions using automatic, and especially manned space vehicles. So far, over 15 000 artificial objects and fragments larger than 5 cm have been recorded in near-Earth space. Therefore, the issues of cleansing outer space from space debris of various sizes are quite relevant. In this paper are considered questions regarding the use of inflatable structures to deorbit spacecrafts, thus avoiding the formation of new space debris. Lastly, conclusions are drawn about the effectiveness of using such inflatable structures.