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we need traffic lights for satellites
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wraper:

--- Quote from: nuclearcat on August 24, 2021, 02:05:41 pm ---My idea is not original or new: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/06/16/well-clean-up-space-junk-using-sticky-foam-spiderwebs-in-orbit-says-russian-space-start-up/

--- End quote ---
That is quite different from what you proposed.
sandalcandal:

--- Quote from: imo on August 24, 2021, 02:57:23 pm ---Small debris could be swept out with a strong laser gun.
Something like 10MWatt continuous laser beam would do the job, imho..
 :D

--- End quote ---
I was actually involved in a project using lasers to perturb space debris out of orbit during undergrad.
https://www.flightglobal.com/eos-to-build-system-to-clear-up-space-debris-/55033.article
Project seems to still be alive and going (same supervisor too)
https://www.universetoday.com/150896/ground-based-lasers-could-push-space-debris-off-collision-course-orbits/

Edit: I'll add it was definitely a real serious project with real hardware and money being implemented. However, the laser pushing function seemed like a side benefit to the "primary" utility which was the star guide star function for Astronomy AO, most of the systems being used were interchangeable so the laser pushing concept was a major idea being explored.
iMo:

--- Quote from: sandalcandal on August 24, 2021, 03:43:57 pm ---
--- Quote from: imo on August 24, 2021, 02:57:23 pm ---Small debris could be swept out with a strong laser gun.
Something like 10MWatt continuous laser beam would do the job, imho..
 :D

--- End quote ---
I was actually involved in a project using lasers to perturb space debris out of orbit during undergrad.
https://www.flightglobal.com/eos-to-build-system-to-clear-up-space-debris-/55033.article
Project seems to still be alive and going (same supervisor too)
https://www.universetoday.com/150896/ground-based-lasers-could-push-space-debris-off-collision-course-orbits/

Edit: I'll add it was definitely a real serious project with real hardware and money being implemented. However, the laser pushing function seemed like a side benefit to the "primary" utility which was the star guide star function for Astronomy AO, most of the systems being used were interchangeable so the laser pushing concept was a major idea being explored.

--- End quote ---
That would certainly work provided you have got a pretty powerful laser handy.
Today's best military lasers are around 100kW max. That is not enough for working with LEO debris, imho.
SiliconWizard:
Let's send all our trash into orbit and then play with lasers. The 21st century is going to be a lot of fun! :-DD
sandalcandal:

--- Quote from: imo on August 24, 2021, 07:32:47 pm ---That would certainly work provided you have got a pretty powerful laser handy.
Today's best military lasers are around 100kW max. That is not enough for working with LEO debris, imho.

--- End quote ---
Can't remember the exact figures but the laser power was much lower than that I think. I recall the idea isn't to obliterate the debris but get the (presumably small) debris to deorbit through ablation/differential heating by shooting them as they are approaching (from appearing at the horizon till overhead-ish) to give negative acceleration. I was just doing some system engineering for some of the support infrastructure so I didn't do any numbers on how efficient the system was likely to be. They still seem to be going if that's any indication of being feasible still or just milking funding. The main commercial partner for the project, EOS, is a defence contractor.

Edit: Found a conference paper from the same research group on the project here https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/196466/2/01_Lingham_Adaptive_optics_tracking_and_2018.pdf Looks like the planned operational power of the manoeuvring laser was 10kW.
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