Orbitally Oriented Extended Dispersed Structures: A Concept for the Formation of an Artificial External Trajectory Mechanism for Spacecraft Motion
Authors: Mironov, Sergey
Type: Book
Published: 2026-08-02
Keywords: Space infrastructure, Interplanetary transportation, Spacecraft trajectories, Spacecraft propulsion, Orbital mechanics, Astrodynamics, Space logistics, In-space resource utilization, Asteroid Belt, Dispersed particle systems, Artificial trajectory environmen

<h2><strong><span>Abstract</span></strong></h2>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>This work considers the concept of orbitally oriented extended dispersed structures as an artificially formed external trajectory mechanism for spacecraft motion. Such a mechanism is understood not as a spacecraft engine and not as a natural dust cloud, but as a pre-created, measurable, and serviceable dispersed medium capable of changing the conditions under which a limited segment of a trajectory is traversed. The expression “dust roads,” used in the previous version as a preliminary metaphor, is replaced in the present version by a more precise concept that reflects the object’s extension, dispersed composition, controllability, and coordination with orbital dynamics.</span></p>
<p><span>The initial premise of the work is that the scaling of spaceflight beyond the regime of single ballistic missions requires not only the improvement of propulsion systems, ballistic schemes, gravity assists, and active spacecraft control, but also consideration of an external infrastructural medium of motion. The proposed approach does not replace classical ballistics and does not abolish spacecraft autonomy; rather, it supplements them with an artificially formed segment of medium in which part of the requirements for correction, stabilization, repeatability of passage, and transition to a more energetic orbital configuration can be transferred from a single spacecraft to a pre-prepared dispersed structure.</span></p>
<p><span>Version 1.2 frames the concept under consideration as a conceptual engineering–physics study with a first limited computational scenario. Unlike the previous version, which focused primarily on the qualitative formulation of the idea, the present version introduces a system of basic criteria: the physical regime of the dispersed structure, particle size range, concentration, mean free path, Knudsen number, phase and vector coherence, kinetic interaction with the spacecraft, <strong><span>erosion penalty</span></strong>, protective-stabilizing configuration, degradation, and restoration of operational parameters.</span></p>
<p><span>In this work, an orbitally oriented extended dispersed structure is considered not as a natural dust cloud and not as a passive region of increased dustiness. Its infrastructural properties arise only through the design specification of the composition, density, size range, extension, phase spread, and orbital coherence of the particles. Therefore, the object of analysis is defined as a connected system: production-logistics hub — dispersed structure — spacecraft. The production-logistics hub provides the acquisition, preparation, fractionation, accumulation, packaging, delivery, and controlled release of matter; the dispersed structure defines the working physical regime of the medium; and the spacecraft interacts with this medium through a calculated kinetic-aerodynamic and protective configuration.</span></p>
<p><span>The work introduces the concept of spacecraft kinetic aerodynamics in a directed dispersed medium. This does not mean classical aerodynamics of a continuous gaseous medium, nor motion in an empty vacuum, but rather the calculated interaction of a spacecraft with a directed statistical flow of particles in a rarefied dispersed medium. The analysis considers the particle flux on the hull, collision frequency, impulse load, integral impulse, spacecraft velocity change, thermal load, erosion cost, and the relationship of these parameters to the spacecraft shape, effective interaction area, relative velocity, and permissible regime of passage through the structure.</span></p>
<p><span>The useful action of the structure is considered separately. The work emphasizes that its significance is not reducible to the direct replacement of an engine or to simple fuel savings. The infrastructural meaning of an orbitally oriented extended dispersed structure lies in the creation of an external regime of motion, in which part of the requirements for entry accuracy, small corrections, damping, stabilization, repeatability of passage, and transition to a high-energy orbital configuration is transferred from a single spacecraft to a pre-prepared medium. At the same time, any useful effect is considered together with the erosion, thermal, and operational cost of such interaction.</span></p>
<p><span>The production-technological part of the work shows that the formation of the structure cannot be reduced to a one-time release of matter. To create a working medium, an organized cycle of preparation, accumulation, packaging, delivery, release, and subsequent diagnostics of dispersed matter is required. At the same time, the first limited scenario does not require an immediately mature asteroid industry: part of the key operations, including preparation of the working fraction, can be performed in advance, while local extraction and processing of matter are considered as a direction for subsequent scaling.</span></p>
<p><span>The practical part of the work examines the first limited computational scenario for forming a segment of the structure. It estimates the order of magnitude of the segment length, medium density, mass of the working fraction, volume of prepared matter, formation scheme, number of passages, role of quasi-parallel spraying, maintenance, and possible transition from the first segment to a more developed infrastructural system. It is shown that the first segment does not require megatons of matter and can be considered within a range of tens of tons of working fraction with a technological reserve, which transfers the problem from the domain of an undefined megastructure to the domain of a large but substantively discussable infrastructural scenario.</span></p>
<p><span>The purpose of the present work is to formulate the engineering–physics problem of forming orbitally oriented extended dispersed structures as an artificial infrastructural medium for spacecraft motion and to define a first computational-criterion scenario for their possible formation and application. This formulation is developed through a system of basic criteria describing the physical regime of the dispersed medium, its interaction with the spacecraft, geometric coordination, durability, maintenance, and infrastructural significance of such structures. These criteria provide the foundation without which a subsequent quantitative model, trajectory verification, and experimental validation cannot be constructed.</span></p>
<p><strong><span>Keywords:</span></strong><span> orbitally oriented extended dispersed structures; conceptual engineering–physics study; computational scenario; artificial infrastructural medium; spacecraft; kinetic aerodynamics; directed dispersed medium; erosion cost; protective-stabilizing module; production-logistics hub; space infrastructure; scaling of spaceflight.<br><em><span class=""><strong>Ключевые слова на русском</strong>: Космическая инфраструктура, Межпланетный транспорт, Траектории космических аппаратов, Двигательные системы космических аппаратов, Орбитальная механика, Астродинамика, Космическая логистика, Использование космических ресурсов, Пояс астероидов, Космическая пыль, Дисперсные системы, Искусственная траекторная среда.</span></em><br></span></p>