Modular Second Stage LEO Satellite

Increased population of LEO satellites are turning LEO into a giant space debris. The solution requires new approach to sat designs. My recommendation is to use the second stage of the rocket as the LEO sat.

I propose a rocket that can only send a single LEO sat to orbit. The first stage will do most of the work. Therefore, the second stage will be much smaller and lighter. The second stage will be designed as a LEO sat. Its outer shell be covered with solar panels. These cells would be covered by protective material which would melt during ascent and further cleared out by the UV light in space. As a result, no protruding solar panels will be required. The satellites maneuvering thrusters will utilize the same fuel as the main engine. Much larger size and weight of the sat would require more fuel to maintain the orbit but larger fuel tank would be enough.

The electronics, making up the sat will be grouped into two. The ones which require update due to technological advancements will be placed on the Tip of the rocket sat. The rest will be placed on the body.

The first stage of the rocket will be reusable which is much easier to achieve compared to the second stage. The second stage will be the satellite therefore will stay in orbit.

The sat in orbit will be serviced by a second type of rocket. It can be built by combining four of the first rocket I proposed. This would increase the payload to orbit. The second stage of the rocket will be a space fuel tanker with a sat Tip on its nose. The space tanker will refuel the sat in orbit to extend its lifetime. The Tip of the sat will have micro thrusters to allow it to attach and detach from the main sat body. The new Tip will replace the old one and make the satellite state of the art. The old Tip will be retrieved by the space tanker and brought back to Earth. This requires the space tanker to have enough fuel left on itself to slow down safely to be retrieved by the Catcher In The Fly I proposed earlier.

The end result is No Space Debris, the satellites are kept state of the art and have much longer life.