Read Online Space Debris and Other Threats From Outer Space by Joseph N. Pelton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joseph N. Pelton
Tags: science, Nature, Environmental Conservation & Protection, Technology & Engineering, Physics, Astrophysics, Aeronautics & Astronautics, Space Science, Environmental Science
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“tape-like” elements. This approach nevertheless still requires a very significant capital investment and an “integrated approach to debris removal”. This concept is shown in Fig. 5.1 [19].
Fig. 5.1
Conceptual diagram of an electro-dynamic debris elimination (EDDE) system
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
The physics and theory are clear, but the need for a scale-model demonstration would seem advisable before a full-scale system were launched. This is one of the more mature ideas, and it is being commercialized by funding provided by the U.S. government. It would only be able to address LEO space objects since Earth’s magnetic field is not strong enough to address operation in higher orbits.
Policy and Legal Concerns
There would be a number of policy concerns with the highly “integrated and holistic approach” to debris removal. This would likely require a new convention to allow a commercial entity to remove space objects of other launching nations from orbit. The system would need to be designed and operated on an international basis in such a manner that it would not be considered a space weapon.
Tether-Based De-Orbit Systems Using Electro Dynamic Techniques
Technology
This is a much more piece-meal approach than the previous technique. In this case a robotic device would attach a tether to a derelict satellite or debris element. The tether’s movement through Earth’s magnetic field could potentially power an ion electronic thrust system to aid de-orbit. The asymmetry of the tether would create wobble to help aid de-orbit as well.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
This approach could be tested more rapidly and a robotic system might be able to attach several tethers to debris objects—either with or without ion engines to assist with de-orbit.
Policy and Legal Concerns
The policy and legal concerns would be much the same as with the EDDE mechanism. Because this mechanism would be on a much smaller scale the concerns with such an approach would be much less.
Much Higher-Powered Ground-Based Lasers
Technology
This approach is similar to the collision avoidance technique but would use higher-power laser systems that would be capable of firing gigawatt pulses at debris [20]. Small debris elements would be moved rather quickly to a new orbit that would decay due to the pull of gravity. In the case of larger derelict satellites, however, it would take a continuing array of pulses to push a large mass into a new orbit that would accomplish de-orbiting.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
Such high gigawatt GBL systems, although developed in the lab, have not been operationally tested. Such a high-powered laser could clearly be used as a space weapon. A targeting system and actual laser pulsing mechanism needs to be operationally demonstrated to prove that such a system would work. Although this approach would be expensive and has not been operationally demonstrated, it is based on military research and a technique that could likely be implemented in just a few years’ times.
Policy and Legal Concerns
A number of countries have strongly objected to such use of ground-based lasers as an anti-satellite weapon that they believe are contrary to Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty. These countries feel that new international conventions are required on such specific aspects as demilitarization of space, space debris mitigation and remediation, and that action needs to be taken to create an internationally sanctioned entity to address space debris and space traffic management issues.
Solar Sail Devices
Technology
Such solar sail arrays would be designed to attach themselves robotically to large debris object, and over time this would facilitate the active de-orbit of the derelict satellite [20]. This would work only on LEO debris and would not assist with MEO and GEO debris.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
This approach would require several more years of development work before it
Fig. 5.1
Conceptual diagram of an electro-dynamic debris elimination (EDDE) system
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
The physics and theory are clear, but the need for a scale-model demonstration would seem advisable before a full-scale system were launched. This is one of the more mature ideas, and it is being commercialized by funding provided by the U.S. government. It would only be able to address LEO space objects since Earth’s magnetic field is not strong enough to address operation in higher orbits.
Policy and Legal Concerns
There would be a number of policy concerns with the highly “integrated and holistic approach” to debris removal. This would likely require a new convention to allow a commercial entity to remove space objects of other launching nations from orbit. The system would need to be designed and operated on an international basis in such a manner that it would not be considered a space weapon.
Tether-Based De-Orbit Systems Using Electro Dynamic Techniques
Technology
This is a much more piece-meal approach than the previous technique. In this case a robotic device would attach a tether to a derelict satellite or debris element. The tether’s movement through Earth’s magnetic field could potentially power an ion electronic thrust system to aid de-orbit. The asymmetry of the tether would create wobble to help aid de-orbit as well.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
This approach could be tested more rapidly and a robotic system might be able to attach several tethers to debris objects—either with or without ion engines to assist with de-orbit.
Policy and Legal Concerns
The policy and legal concerns would be much the same as with the EDDE mechanism. Because this mechanism would be on a much smaller scale the concerns with such an approach would be much less.
Much Higher-Powered Ground-Based Lasers
Technology
This approach is similar to the collision avoidance technique but would use higher-power laser systems that would be capable of firing gigawatt pulses at debris [20]. Small debris elements would be moved rather quickly to a new orbit that would decay due to the pull of gravity. In the case of larger derelict satellites, however, it would take a continuing array of pulses to push a large mass into a new orbit that would accomplish de-orbiting.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
Such high gigawatt GBL systems, although developed in the lab, have not been operationally tested. Such a high-powered laser could clearly be used as a space weapon. A targeting system and actual laser pulsing mechanism needs to be operationally demonstrated to prove that such a system would work. Although this approach would be expensive and has not been operationally demonstrated, it is based on military research and a technique that could likely be implemented in just a few years’ times.
Policy and Legal Concerns
A number of countries have strongly objected to such use of ground-based lasers as an anti-satellite weapon that they believe are contrary to Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty. These countries feel that new international conventions are required on such specific aspects as demilitarization of space, space debris mitigation and remediation, and that action needs to be taken to create an internationally sanctioned entity to address space debris and space traffic management issues.
Solar Sail Devices
Technology
Such solar sail arrays would be designed to attach themselves robotically to large debris object, and over time this would facilitate the active de-orbit of the derelict satellite [20]. This would work only on LEO debris and would not assist with MEO and GEO debris.
Level of Readiness and Feasibility
This approach would require several more years of development work before it
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