Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology (한국군사과학기술학회지)

The Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology (한국군사과학기술학회)
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Research on Applicability of Laser Ablation Propulsion to Space Debris Removal by Simulations

시뮬레이션을 통한 레이저 융삭 추진의 우주 쓰레기 제거 응용 가능성 연구

  • 유성문 (육군방공학교 전력발전과) ;
  • 이승민 (육군방공학교 전력발전과)
  • Received : 2021.09.15
  • Accepted : 2022.01.10
  • Published : 2022.04.05
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Abstract

Laser ablation propulsion(LAP) is the method to create impulse by laser ablation. It can be used to deorbit the space debris(SD), as its long-range property and versatility on any material. In this paper, we find out several requirements of the LAP system(LAPS) to deorbit the SD by simple numerical calculations of the SD orbit and laser beam flux. As a result, minimum operable altitude angle turned out to be a crucial variable to the LAPS. Moreover, if minimum operable altitude angle is 10°, and if the minimum distance between the LAPS and the SD is below 450 km, 1 m/s2 is sufficient to deorbit the SD by once. With 18 kJ/3 ns pulsed laser and cube shaped 100 kg SD, 1 m/s2 acceleration can be achieved by increasing the pulse repetition rate over 34~53 Hz, depending on the size of the SD. This capability could compare with the conceptual design of the Japan Establishment for a Power-laser Community Harvest(J-EPoCH) facility, which include 8 kJ, 5 PW@100 Hz laser.

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References

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