01
Intercept
A passive, multi-panel structure presents a large effective area to the debris environment in its orbital path.
Technology
PODRS: the Passive Orbital Debris Removal System
PODRS is a passive capture concept for the smallest, fastest, and least trackable objects in low Earth orbit. The design goal is straightforward: intercept debris 10 centimeters and smaller, slow it, and retain it, without active propulsion or capture mechanisms.
The technology is patent pending and in active development.
What PODRS is designed to do
02
Slow and retain
On impact, the system is designed to fragment incoming particles, absorb their energy, and retain the material rather than scattering it.
03
Characterize
The same interactions are designed to record impact and flux data, turning each encounter into a measurement of the small-debris environment.
Two kinds of value
Mitigation
Reducing the population of small untracked debris addresses a driver of cascading collision risk in the most heavily used orbits.
Data
A passive sensor for small-debris flux would fill a persistent gap in environmental data that today is largely modeled rather than measured.
Technology maturity
PODRS is patent pending and in active development. The near-term objective is to mature the concept toward a planned on-orbit demonstration.