Laser Deflection of Space Debris
- Paper number
IAC-10,A6,4,14,x8424
- Author
Prof. Franz-Josef Kahlen, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Coauthor
Mr. Kenneth Mbugua, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Year
2010
- Abstract
In recent years, the number of near-misses and even collisions of space debris with objects in orbits has increased significantly. While it is possible to trace larger objects from the ground, the orbit of small objects cannot be mapped. Considering that even such small objects travel at speeds of 10 km / sec, the momentum of such is sufficiently high to endanger man-made objects in space such as satellites or the International Space Station or even astronauts. An experimental model of exposure of small scale debris to pulsed laser beams in the lab is suggested as a means of investigation the recoil force exerted on such debris by the laser beam pulse. When the debris is exposed to the pulsed laser beam, the target material temperature is raised above the melting and vaporization temperature. A recoil force is then created by evaporated material. The experimental setup is presented and an analysis of the generated recoil forces is carried out.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)