Satellites in Russia to Be Kept “on a Leash” in Orbit
A Russian–Chinese team has proposed a tether system that can adjust satellites’ positions with centimeter-level precision and extend their service life.
Russian engineers have proposed adjusting satellites’ positions in orbit using a system of flexible tethers. The project was developed by a team from Samara University named after S. P. Korolev and Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an. The system, called Flex Weave, is based on lightweight, high-strength flexible cables that connect satellites to one another. The proposal was reported by KP-Samara.
After deployment into orbit, the spacecraft move apart to a predetermined distance and form a stable configuration relative to one another. The length of the tethers can be adjusted by command from Earth, allowing operators to precisely regulate the satellites’ relative positions.
The system also makes it possible to organize continuous rotation of the entire satellite cluster, which can be useful for panoramic imaging and microgravity experiments.
Saving Fuel and Extending Service Life
Conventional satellites gradually lose altitude over time, and correcting their orbit requires onboard thrusters. Once the fuel runs out, the spacecraft slowly deorbits. In the Flex Weave system, no propellant is required. Orbital adjustments rely instead on electric motors powered by solar panels.
Engineers have already assembled prototypes of the tether system, which are currently undergoing ground-based testing on specialized rigs. In the future, the developers plan to test the technology in real-world orbital conditions.
