Chinese researchers propose to destroy space junk with space lasers

Chinese researchers have published a study exploring the possibility of cleaning up space debris using lasers located in space. According to the research team, this is theoretically feasible.

The computer simulation is based on the use of a laser located in a space satellite. According to Wired, the idea is that the laser fires short bursts of 20 beams of near-infrared light for several minutes at a piece of space debris up to 10cm in size.

The piece of space junk is then broken up into smaller pieces or is deflected from its orbit by the energy of the laser beam. Factors included in the simulation include the relative movement between the debris and the laser, and the angle of the debris when the laser is irradiated.

Due to the speeds of up to 28,000 km/h, space debris can cause considerable damage to, for example, satellites or space capsules. For example, in 2012, astronauts from the ISS had to divert to the escape pod because of skimming space debris from an old satellite. That same year, the ISS also had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision with debris from a Japanese satellite.

More conventional methods have also been devised for cleaning up space debris. For example, the European Space Agency has launched the e.Deorbit mission. The idea is to build a satellite equipped with a robotic arm. The clean-up satellite has to move towards the waste and grab it with the robotic arm. This mission is still in the design and testing phase. The ESA is also working on an addition or alternative to the robotic arm: a net that can be fired by the e.Deorbit satellite to capture and drag a target.

The research by scientists from the Chinese Air Force Engineering University is published in ScienceDirect, under the title ‘Impacts of orbital elements of space-based laser station on small scale space debris removal’.