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Using Lasers for Debris Mitigation

Phillip Chung

CHASE

pchung93@usc.edu

Astronautical Engineering Department

December 14^th, 2021

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Background

Space industry going through a commercialization phase
Private companies are launching high value government assets, fielding proliferated LEO constellations for internet connectivity, and even successfully accomplishing commercial human spaceflight
With the growing need of real estate in space, there comes a great challenge: protecting assets, including humans, from collision with orbital debris

Orbital Debris Problem

More than 22,000 objects larger than 4 inches currently being tracked by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (only 1,000 represent operational spacecraft)
Approximately 500,000 objects in between 0.4 inches and 4 inches
> tens of millions objects smaller than the 0.4 inches

Moving at velocities averaging up to 15 km/s, which can cause significant impact hazard for orbiting spacecraft and personnel
Energy = ½*m*v²

If appropriate measures for space waste management are not immediately undertaken, accidental/unintended collisions between objects and high value assets will create a cascade effect known as Kessler Syndrome (or Effect), making the orbital regime unusable

Space Waste Management Concept

Ground-Based Lasers

Space-Based Lasers

Integrated Laser Payloads on HVAs

Ground-Based Laser

Project ORION and Laser Broom have previously been proposed as solutions for de-orbiting orbital debris using ground based lasers
Technology exists on the ground to do this today
Selected ground sites for wide coverage
Operations:

1. Select debris based off high fidelity orbital models and data

2. Coordinate with LCH, DoD, and international partners

3. Select ground site that will have the target within line of sight

4. Enter “zapping” or “sweeping” phase

Space-Based Laser

Based off DE-STAR (Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploration) concept

Deflect asteroids, comets and other near-Earth objects (NEO) that pose credible risk of impact

Modular phased array of kilowatt class lasers to achieve highly-focused energy to “sweep” space debris
Coherent Amplification Network (CAN) laser has been proposed before to be attached to the ISS to target and de-orbit space debris in ISS path

Policy Issues

Lasers in space are considered weapons – can fired off to ablate or debris in a particular range or size
Global coordination to ensure HVAs are not accidentally targeted – which may increase the amount of bureaucracy needed to remove orbital debris

Laser Clearing House (LCH) – ensures orbital assets are not negatively impacted by lasers, laser projects with DoD involvement are required to coordinate with the LCH

Standards need to be in place and require the all industry players to de-orbit de-commissioned satellites

Conclusion

Advancing this technology is a path to field lasers to vaporize debris along the tracks of HVAs in all orbits, such as the ISS and cislunar vehicles
Reducing orbital debris in all orbits increase safety of commercial human spaceflight in LEO, cislunar vehicles, and future human spaceflight missions to Mars and Beyond
Using lasers is a viable and affordable way to increase orbital real estate availability in all orbital regimes
Global coordination is required and necessary to avoid pointing at HVAs