Removing small scale space debris by using a hybrid ground and space based laser system

Abstract

High power pulsed laser orbiting debris removal is considered as one of the most efficient and feasible methods to mitigate the threat from the small scale space debris. It is divided into two methods in accordance with its placement of the laser system, i.e. the ground-based system and the space-based system. However, each of the systems has its inherent advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, this article combined the advantages of both laser systems to propose a hybrid ground and space based laser system. First, we established a laser ablation impulse coupling model according to the analysis of the rotation characteristic of the small scale space debris. Then, a momentum transfer model of space debris orbit was built up through the analysis of orbit transfer. Finally, the proposed scheme is investigated by numerical simulation, and the small scale space debris in typical altitude of 800km was removed through 1553 laser pulses by using the hybrid laser system within one pass. The simulation results shown that, the proposed system can effectively remove the small scale space debris.