To prevent unwanted collisions with satellites and space vehicles, NASA plans to shoot down space garbage using lasers. A new study at NASA shows that a 5-kilowatt laser aimed at space junk for a few hours a day could degrade the junk’s orbit enough to cause it to fall from the sky. That’s good news on a couple of fronts: First, a 5-kilowatt laser won’t be seen as a threat to the safety of other nations and second, the low-power light beams are less expensive to generate than weapons-grade beams.
NASA’s proposal to shoot down space garbage could remove as many as 10 objects a day. The same beams being used to nudge junk out of the sky could help to nudge satellites into new or optimal position, which would lead to a big cost savings since satellite thrusters would not have to be fueled for trajectory corrections.
Trash-Zapping Light Beams
NASA Plans to Shoot Down Space Garbage with Lasers
Trend Themes
1. Laser Trash Removal - NASA's use of lasers to remove space garbage could lead to new opportunities for the development of laser technology for waste management purposes.
2. Orbit Optimization - NASA's use of laser beams to nudge satellites into new or optimal positions creates the opportunity for new innovations in satellite thruster technology.
3. Low-power Light Beams - NASA's use of less expensive, low-power light beams for space garbage removal could lead to new opportunities for energy-efficient laser technology.
Industry Implications
1. Space Technology - The development and advancement of laser technology could revolutionize the space industry by providing cost-effective solutions for waste disposal and satellite positioning.
2. Waste Management - The use of laser technology for trash removal could transform the waste management industry by providing an innovative and cost-effective solution for removing trash.
3. Renewable Energy - The use of low-power light beams for space garbage removal could present new opportunities for renewable energy technology, as it could reduce the demand for energy from traditional power sources.