Method and device for removing space debris
AssigneeDeutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
InventorWolfgang Schall
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Abstract
To provide a method and a device for removing a piece of debris moving in space at an orbital velocity in an orbit about the earth which function as simply as possible and are economical, it is proposed that the piece of debris be irradiated with radiation to bring about vaporization of the debris material, and that the piece of debris be removed from its orbit about the earth by the vaporization of the material, and that the device comprise a radiation source for generating the radiation which brings about the vaporization of the debris material, and that an aiming means be provided for applying the radiation to the piece of debris moving in the orbit about the earth.
Claims31
Method of removing a piece of debris moving in space at an orbital velocity in an orbit about the earth, comprising the steps of:
- generating radiation;
- irradiating the piece of debris with said radiation to bring about vaporization of the debris material, and
- removing the piece of debris from its orbit about the earth by the vaporization of the material.
In combination with a space vehicle, a device for removing a piece of debris moving in space at an orbital velocity in an orbit about the earth, comprising:
- a radiation source for generating radiation for bringing about vaporization of the debris material,
- means for mounting said radiation source to and space vehicle, and
- aiming means provided on said space vehicle for applying the radiation to said piece of debris moving in said orbit about the earth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.