LightForce: An Update on Orbital Collision Avoidance Using Photon Pressure
- Paper number
IAC-12,A6,5,11.p1,x14662
- Author
Dr. Jan Stupl, SGT Inc. / NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. James Mason, USRA / NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Willem De Vries, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Craig Smith, EOS Space Systems Pty Ltd, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Creon Levit, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Dr. William Marshall, Universities Space Research Association, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Alberto Guillen Salas, USRA / NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Alexander Pertica, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Scot Olivier, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Ting Wang, Stanford University, United States
- Year
2012
- Abstract
We present an update on our research on collision avoidance using photon-pressure induced by ground-based lasers. In the past, we have shown the general feasibility of employing small orbit perturbations, induced by photon pressure from ground-based laser illumination, for collision avoidance in space. Possible applications would be protecting space assets from impacts with debris and stabilizing the orbital debris environment. Focusing on collision avoidance rather than de-orbit, the scheme avoids some of the security implications of active debris removal and requires less sophisticated hardware than laser ablation. In earlier research we concluded that one ground based system consisting of a 10 kW class laser, directed by a 1.5 m telescope with adaptive optics, could avoid a significant fraction of debris-debris collisions in low Earth orbit. This paper describes our recent efforts, which include refining our original analysis, employing higher fidelity simulations and performing experimental tracking tests. We investigate the efficacy of one or more laser ground stations for debris-debris collision avoidance and satellite protection using a physics-based simulation to investigate multiple case studies. The approach includes modeling of laser beam propagation, the debris environment including actual trajectories and physical parameters, and resulting photon pressure. In contrast to earlier research the focus is now on satellite protection. We also present the results of experimental laser debris tracking tests. These tests track potential targets of a first technical demonstration and quantify the achievable tracking performance.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-12,A6,5,11.p1,x14662.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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