Laser-broom would sweep space junk from orbit
The idea of this system is simply, laser rays would just sweep the space junk away from the orbit, but the problem is that this kind of system is rumored to serve rather military purposes than just sweep the debris out from orbiting trajectory(1).
One of the major problems with that kind of system is that if they are used against big pieces of debris, that thing would cause that the thing would be crushed to the smaller particles. Those particles are difficult to see, and the smaller debris is the bigger problem than the big particles, which are easier to see.
Use of small laser satellites to clean debris away
Space debris is a very big problem because impacting those particles can destroy the billion dollars satellites and space probes, and that is the reason, why the orbital trajectories wanted to be clean from that debris, and there is one very interesting project, what might interest people. The project is called OLaMoT(2). Orbital laser momentum transfer-project or OLAMOT is basing the small-size satellites and lasers, which are used to clean the debris from the orbiter.
In OLAMOT-project Finish Geodetic Institute is researching the artificial intelligence-based solution that helps to aim the laser. Another participant Thales corporation would research, what kind of laser would be suitable in this operation.
The project what is made between Thales corporation and the FGI (Finnish Geodetic Institute) is based on the satellites, what is pushing dangerous debris to the atmosphere, and that means that this kind of small satellites can detect the space debris, and then give the laser-impulse to that object, what would release the molecular cloud from the outer layer of that thing. That molecular vapor would act as a small rocket motor and push the piece of debris to the atmosphere without making new debris to the trajectory.
The OLAMOT-system must react very fast when it notices the debris, and that's why the system must react extremely fast, and that's why the system might use artificial intelligence to locate the targets. The idea of this artificial intelligence-based system is similar to the software, which recognizes the faces in mobile telephones. But at this time, it would recognize the debris. Then it would aim it and launch the laser system.
The thing, that makes OLAMOT interesting is that the system is targeted to the smallest parts of space debris, which is very hard to detect. But if the satellite would have an "auto-fire button" it can be a very interesting tool for sweeping the orbiter, and of course, that thing would be useful also for use in the killer satellites.
The FGI is researching the system, which would detect the space debris, by using the image detection system, where is connected to the trajectory information of the satellite and debris. The thing that makes this system interesting is that there is a possibility to make the system, which would use artificial intelligence to detect and launch the laser against the target. If that process would be automatized, this system can be revolutionary in space technology.
FGI English: https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/en/research
Thales-corporation: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en
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