A Japanese startup called EX-Fusion has revealed a unique plan to address the issue of space junk by using lasers to eliminate it. This innovative approach is just one of several potential solutions being explored to tackle the challenge of cleaning up the congested space around Earth.
This method does not involve exploding objects in space. Instead, Ex-Fusion will use a specific type of laser beam to gently push space debris out of orbit and into the Earth’s atmosphere, where it will burn up during re-entry.
The company is pursuing a ground-based laser approach, differentiating itself from its competitors who use lasers mounted on satellites. It has a unique advantage due to its experience in nuclear fusion, which is what its lasers were initially designed for.
EX-Fusion plans to install a laser at an observatory in Canberra, Australia, in collaboration with EOS Space. The laser will be used to monitor space debris smaller than four inches, a task that has been challenging for other lasers.
During the second phase, the laser will be activated to target and eliminate a specific object. The laser will be fired intermittently in order to exert force against the object’s movement in space. The aim is to slow down the object so that it eventually descends into the Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA has recognized the potential of EX-Fusion technology, both on Earth and in space, but has not shown a preference for either approach.
NASA and the European Space Agency have acknowledged that space junk is currently a significant problem, and there is a need to find the most effective methods, possibly a combination of multiple approaches, to address this issue.
Currently, the clean-up efforts are challenging and not going smoothly. If the idea of using ground-based methods instead of space probes to remove junk ever becomes a reality, it could potentially be less difficult.
Reference- The Verge, Interesting Engineering, EX-Fusion website & PR, Business Wire, NASA, Futurism