LASER-REACTIVE METHOD FOR DISPOSAL OF SMA LL SPACE DEBRIS

Laboratory investigations were made of a laser-reactive method for the removal of small fragments orbiting in space. The method is based on the formation of an erosion jet by the evaporation of the debris mater ial under the influence of laser radiation, The jet creates a recoil m omentum acting on the irradiated surface. Such a laserjet engine, form ed from small space objects, alters the velocity of these objects and can be used to send them into lower orbits at the expense of a small a mount of energy. They should finally burn up in the upper layers of th e atmosphere. The optimal irradiation conditions are determined and th e reactive force of the erosion-jet thrust is found for various struct ural materials encountered in space debris. It is shown that a laser r adiation energy of about 3 kJ g-1 is needed to dispose of space debris by deceleration. This disposal method can be used remotely over a lar ge part of space and is ecologically clean.