Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Space debris is a real problem, both for astronomers and for operating satellites. Many countries and private companies are thinking about how to effectively rid our orbit of non-functioning spacecraft. Japanese satellite company JSAT talked about its plans to remove garbage using a laser.

JSAT engineers have announced a plan to send into orbit a satellite equipped with a laser that will help destroy space debris. The company plans to launch the device in 2026. The first work will be carried out on small fragments of garbage, which, as scientists fear, may one day collide with other active satellites.

The satellite will be equipped with a low-power laser designed to “shoot” with short pulses, similar to the common technique used by dermatologists to eliminate skin defects. Instead of burning entire pieces of space debris with a laser, the team plans to melt a small target area of ​​each piece of debris.

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