Project ORION : orbital debris removal using ground-based sensors and lasers / J.W. Campbell, project manager.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

Campbell, J. W.

George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, issuing body.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, sponsoring body.

Series:

NASA technical memorandum ; 108522.

NASA technical memorandum ; 108522

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Laser ablation.

Space debris.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (v, 342 pages) : illustrations.

Other Title:

Orbital debris removal using ground-based sensors and lasers

Place of Publication:

MSFC, Alabama : National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center, October 1996.

Summary:

About 100,000 pieces of 1- to 10-cm debris in low-Earth orbit are too small to track reliably but large enough to cripple or destroy spacecraft. The ORION team studied the feasibility of removing the debris with ground-based laser impulses. Photoablation experiments were surveyed and applied to likely debris materials. Laser intensities needed for debris orbit modification call for pulses on the order of 10kJ or continuous wave lasers on the order of 1 MW. Adaptive optics are necessary to correct for atmospheric turbulence. Wavelength and pulse duration windows were found that limit beam degradation due to nonlinear atmospheric processes. Debris can be detected and located to within about 10 microrads with existing radar and passive optical technology. Fine targeting would be accomplished with laser illumination, which might also be used for detection. Bistatic detection with communications satellites may also be possible. We recommend that existing technology be used to demonstrate the concept at a loss of about $20 million. We calculate that an installation to clear altitudes up to 800 km of 1- to 10-cm debris over 2 years of operation would cost about $80 million. Clearing altitudes up to 1,500 km would take about 3 years and cost about $160 millio

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed May 6, 2016).

"October 1996."

"Performing organization: George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL"--Report documentation page.

Includes bibliographical references (page 341).

No Copyright

Unclassified

Publicly Available

Unlimited

pdf

[ Page Count ] 348

Other Format:

Microfiche version: Campbell, J. W. Project ORION

OCLC:

703645438