Japanese scientists have revealed how they plan to use powerful lasers to zap space junk circling the Earth to clear the planet’s orbit.
Experts say more than a million pieces of debris from dead satellites and discarded parts of spacecraft are orbiting the Earth.
Now Japanese space tech specialists Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation say they have a solution with the development of special orbiting laser canons.
They claim the lasers will be able to disrupt the orbits of pieces of junk sufficiently to make them burn up harmlessly in Earth’s atmosphere.
The new venture, named Orbital Lasers, was officially launched in Tokyo on 30th January and the first lasers, they say, should be ready for sale next year (2025).
And by 2029, they said, they want to start tackling the problem themselves.
Orbital Lasers said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 30th January. “The issue of space debris is now regarded as an environmental problem as significant as global warming and marine plastic pollution.
“SKY Perfect JSAT and Orbital Lasers are earnestly addressing this concern and aiming to contribute to the improvement of a sustainable space environment.”
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They added: “This milestone follows the announcement in June 2020 to design and develop the payload of the world’s first satellite for space debris removal using laser technology. In collaboration with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN).
“As a result of this progress, a startup was born from SKY Perfect JSAT.”
They explained: “Orbital Lasers will not only engage in space debris removal but also aims to further utilise and develop its laser technologies.
“By incorporating space-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology into satellites. The company aspires to become the world’s first commercial provider of high-precision ground surface information through the use of Satellite LiDAR.”
The European Space Agency (ESA) says that more than a million pieces of space debris. Ranging in size from one to 10 centimetres are currently orbiting the planet.
Researchers have been attempting to come up with solutions to the problem for years without success.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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