Laser broom

A laser broom is a proposed ground-based laser beam-powered propulsion system whose purpose is to sweep space debris out of the path of other artificial satellites such as the International Space Station.

Contents

Technical description

Lasers are designed to target debris between one and ten centimeters in diameter. Collisions with such debris are commonly of such high velocity that considerable damage and numerous secondary fragments is the result.[1] The laser broom is intended to be used at high enough power to punch through the atmosphere with enough remaining power to ablate material from the target.[2] The ablating material imparts a small thrust that lowers its orbital perigee into the upper atmosphere, thereby increasing drag so that its remaining orbital life is short.[3] The laser would operate in pulsed mode to avoid self-shielding of the target by the ablated plasma. The performance of this system is well-below that required for an effective anti-satellite weapon.

Recent NASA research (2011) indicates that firing a laser beam at a piece of space junk could alter velocity by 0.04 inches (1.0 mm) per second. Keeping it up for a few hours per day could alter its course by 650 feet (200 m) per day.[4]

Applications and proposed project

The Space Shuttle routinely showed evidence of "tiny" impacts upon post-flight inspection.[5]

One laser broom project is named Project Orion [6](costs 500 Millions $)[7], not to be confused with the spacecraft propulsion project named Project Orion or NASA's Orion spacecraft (or CEV).

References

  1. ^ Dr Sten Odenwald (1997). "Where can I get information about orbiting space junk?". Ask the Astronomer - Archive of Astronomy Questions and Answers. Astronomy Cafe. http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q1697.html. Retrieved 2007-03-26. 
  2. ^ Jonathan Campbell, "Using Lasers in Space: Laser Orbital Debris Removal and Asteroid Deflection", Occasional Paper No. 20, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, December 2000.
  3. ^ Ivan Bekey, "Project Orion: Orbital Debris Removal Using Ground-Based Sensors and Lasers.", Second European Conference on Space Debris, 1997, ESA-SP 393, p. 699.
  4. ^ Bates, Daniel (2011-03-16). "Nasa to shoot lasers at space junk around Earth to prevent collisions with satellites". Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1366838/Nasa-use-lasers-shoot-space-junk-Earth.html. Retrieved 2011-03-24. "The theory is that the photons in laser beams carry a tiny amount of momentum in them which, under the right circumstances, could nudge an object in space and slow it down by 0.04 inches per second. By firing a laser at a piece of junk for a few hours it should be possible to alter it’s course by 650ft per day. ... While that won’t be enough to knock it out of orbit, it could be sufficient to avoid a collision with a space station or satellite. The theory marks a change in approach from previous research which looked into using expensive military Star Wars-style lasers to destroy space junk." 
  5. ^ "Orbiting Junk Continues to Threaten International Space Station". space.com/. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/planetearth/space_junk_000901.html. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 
  6. ^ Ivan Bekey (1997-05). "Orion's Laser: Hunting Space Debris". Aerospace America. AIAA. http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/orions_laser_hunting_space_debris.shtml. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
  7. ^ "Satellite Smashers". Air & Space Magazine. March 01, 2008. http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/space_debris.html?c=y&page=2. Retrieved August 18, 2011. 

Further reading

External links