Sling-Sat Space Debris Collector Would Travel by Catapault

The problem with sending a satellite to remove debris from low Earth orbit is that is can only collect so much before it either fills up or runs out of fuel. Texas A&M University professor Daniele Mortari and his PhD student Jonathan Missel think they have a way around that problem. What if the debris could be ejected after collection? The debris would be directed to burn up in the atmosphere and at the same time, impart an impulse boost to the satellite. The two explain in the video below: