Published September 16, 2003 | Version v1
Report

Space Debris-de-Orbiting by Vaporization Impulse using Short Pulse Laser

Description

Space debris constitutes a significant hazard to low earth orbit satellites and particularly to manned spacecraft. A quite small velocity decrease from vaporization impulses is enough to lower the perigee of the debris sufficiently for atmospheric drag to de-orbit the debris. A short pulse (picosecond) laser version of the Orion concept can accomplish this task in several years of operation. The ''Mercury'' short pulse Yb:S-FAP laser being developed at LLNL for laser fusion is appropriate for this task

Availability note (English)

Available from PURL: https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/15006465-WhFJsO/native/

Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
0.9 Megabytes
Report number
UCRL-JC--155482

Conference

Title
2. International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion
Dates
20-23 Oct 2003
Place
Sendai (Japan)

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
35032922
Subject category
S75: CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference, Non-conventional Literature
Descriptors DEI
EVAPORATION; LASER RADIATION; LASERS; LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY; PROPULSION; PULSED IRRADIATION; SATELLITES; VELOCITY
Descriptors DEC
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; IRRADIATION; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; RADIATIONS; US DOE; US ORGANIZATIONS

Optional Information

Contract/Grant/Project number
W-7405-ENG-48
Funding organization
US Department of Energy (United States)