Rotational Deceleration of Space Objects using Orbital Lasers

Kurzfassung

The growing population of space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) poses increasing risks to operational spacecrafts and long-term spaceflight sustainability. Active Debris Removal (ADR) of uncooperative, fast-spinning objects remains particularly challenging due to constraints from robotic capture dynamics. This work investigates laser-ablative de-tumbling as a contactless method to reduce angular momentum and enable subsequent capture. A key contribution of this research is the definition of key laser parameters suitable for de-spinning applications such as wavelength, pulse energy, repetition rate, pulse length, beam divergence, and beam quality. These parameters are critical for predicting and optimizing laser-matter interactions for representative debris materials. Building on this, an existing laser-matter interaction simulation framework was extensively redeveloped. The software features ray tracing accelerated with a graphical processing unit (GPU), advanced beam caustic modelling, individual beam intensity profiles and multi-material target handling. To calculate the angular momentum imparted by laser pulses, the framework combines simulated surface fluence with empirically measured and simulated material response data. Significantly, the de-spinning simulations now incorporate technical tolerances and real-world uncertainties, including laser jitter, pointing precision limits, and servicer and target position uncertainties, enabling more realistic mission analyses. The extended framework was applied to simulate de-tumbling of representative satellites and debris objects in LEO using real-world geometric and inertial data. Results demonstrate that complete rotational deceleration is achievable within mission-relevant timescales, while also revealing the effects of operational constraints, optimal irradiation strategies, and targeting uncertainties. Beyond demonstrating feasibility, the simulation framework provides mission-relevant predictions, such as de-spinning duration and laser energy requirements, across multiple target scenarios. These results offer critical insights for servicer design, mission planning, and operational optimization, establishing laser-ablative de-tumbling as a technically viable key method to enable ADR of fast-spinning or tumbling objects. This work bridges the gap between theoretical modeling and potential in-orbit demonstrations, providing a quantitative tool for risk assessment and mission design in debris removal operations, laying the ground for further developments towards a digital twin for in-orbit operations.