Ground-based laser momentum transfer concept for space debris collision avoidance

Paper number

IAC-21,A6,6,2,x66062

Author

Dr. Emiliano Cordelli, Germany, GMV, Space Debris Office (SDO), ESA/ESOC

Coauthor

Mr. Andrea Di Mira, Germany, ESA - European Space Agency

Coauthor

Dr. Tim Flohrer, Germany, European Space Agency (ESA)

Coauthor

Mr. Srinivas J. Setty, Germany, European Space Agency (ESA/ESOC)

Coauthor

Dr. Igor Zayer, Germany, European Space Operations Centre

Coauthor

Dr. Stefan Scharring, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Coauthor

Mr. Heiko Dreyer, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Coauthor

Dr. Gerd Wagner, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Coauthor

Dr. Jürgen Kästel, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Coauthor

Mr. Paul Wagner, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Coauthor

Mr. Ewan Schafer, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Coauthor

Mr. Wolfgang Riede, Germany, DLR, German Aerospace Center

Coauthor

Mr. Christoph Bamann, Germany, Technical University of Munich

Coauthor

Prof. Urs Hugentobler, Germany, Technical University of Munich

Coauthor

Dr. Pawel Lejba, Poland, Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK-PAN)

Coauthor

Dr. Tomasz Suchodolski, Poland, Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK-PAN)

Coauthor

Mr. Egon Döberl, Austria, ASA Astrosysteme GmbH

Coauthor

Mr. Dietmar Weinzinger, Austria, ASA Astrosysteme GmbH

Coauthor

Mr. Wolfgang Promper, Austria, ASA Astrosysteme GmbH

Year

2021

Abstract

Satellite laser ranging (SLR) is a well-established technology within the scientific community used since the early 1960s to precisely measure distances. The technology evolved in support of the geodetic research striving for high accuracy measurements which nowadays is achieved by means of high repetition, low energy pulse lasers used in combination of satellites equipped with retroreflectors. The achieved accuracy allowed not only for quality improvement of orbit determination products but also remote estimation of the attitude of the observed target.\\
The SLR technique constitutes a highly accurate, relatively cheap alternative to radars for the tracking of orbiting targets. In the last decade, the successful tracking of resident space objects, not equipped with retroreflectors, made SLR a fundamental and appealing technique also in the space debris domain.\\
In this study, we will introduce a step forward - thanks to the availability of commercial high power ($>$ 10 kW) continuous wave (CW) lasers - which consists in the setup of a network of ground stations able to efficiently contribute to space debris collision avoidance manoeuvres in the low Earth orbit (LEO).\\
This paper will summarize the achievements of a conceptual study on ground-based laser momentum transfer to LEO space debris performed by a consortium under the guidance of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the frame of the ESA Space Safety Programme.\\
The study was carried out approaching the problem from an astrodynamical, physical, technological and legal point of view. The required tracking precision and the fundamental physics of the laser momentum transfer (LMT) were studied to evaluate the achievable thrust on LEO debris objects with commercially available components. An astrodynamical analysis was carried out to assess the efficiency of the imposed thrust and the consequences on the probability of collision in LEO. In the paper we will report the outcomes of the study which allowed us to define: the requirements of a laser tracking and momentum transfer (LTMT) station, the minimum size of an LTMT network for LEO collision avoidance operation, the current technological challenges, and gaps to be filled before its implementation.

Abstract document

IAC-21,A6,6,2,x66062.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-21,A6,6,2,x66062.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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