SPACE DEBRIS REMOVAL SYSTEM USING CONCENTRATED SOLAR RAYS

ongoing

SPADER will design a space debris removal system through R&T actions. The concept idea that has been described and published in several international aerospace papers, is to interact with the selected space object using concentrated solar rays, high power beam, in such a way that the object will either be evaporated or its original orbital elements be altered, and either fall into a diminishing energy orbit, and finally entering the atmosphere and burning out, or pushed to a higher energy orbit (re-orbited to a graveyard). This system is composed of a unique double parabolic mirror system able to collect, concentrate and focus the solar light on the target at large distances, which can remove the space debris by total vaporization or local vaporization that will alter its orbital elements. The main module (system of mirrors) will be designed as a non-foldable or foldable type, so that it can be launched with the currently used space mission carriers like any other satellite. In a follow-up development project , SPADER will be delivered as a full product ready for launch. SPADER will pave the way for further spin-offs, it could be used to deflect asteroids having collision trajectories with Earth by vaporization of their material which will generate a reactive deflective force.