Penetration characteristics of metal harpoons with various tip shapes for capturing space debris

The shape of a metal harpoon tip is considered to greatly influence penetration behavior. It is necessary to design the shape of the harpoon tip appropriately in order to penetrate space debris from any angle. In the present study, we investigate the effects of the shape of the harpoon tip on the penetration behavior through numerical simulation. Four types of harpoon tip, i.e., conical, spherical, flat, and double-bladed harpoon tips, were used, and their penetration behaviors were compared. We gained insight into the penetration characteristics of harpoon tips at various target angles as well as when the target was placed horizontally.