LARAMOTIONS: a conceptual study on laser networks for near-term collision avoidance for space debris in the low Earth orbit

Appl Opt. 2021 Nov 1;60(31):H24-H36. doi: 10.1364/AO.432160.

Abstract

A conceptual study has been carried out on laser station networks to enhance Space Situational Awareness and contribute to collision avoidance in the low Earth orbit by high-precision laser tracking of debris objects and momentum transfer via photon pressure from ground-based high-power lasers. Depending on the network size, geographical distribution of stations, orbit parameters, and remaining time to conjunction, multipass irradiation enhances the efficiency of photon momentum coupling by 1-2 orders of magnitude and has the potential to eventually yield a promisingly significant reduction of the collision rate in low Earth orbit.