CLEANSPACE - Space debris removal by ground based laser

Abstract

Studies show that the number of debris in Low Earth Orbit is exponentially growing despite future debris release mitigation measures considered. Especially, the already existing population of small and medium debris (between 1 cm and several dozens of cm) is today a concrete threat to operational satellites. Ground based laser solution which can remove at low expense and in a non-destructive way hazardous debris around selected space assets appears as one highly promising answer. This solution is studied in the frame of CLEANSPACE project which is a part of the FP7 space theme. Overall CLEANSPACE objective is threefold: to propose an efficient and affordable global system architecture, to tackle safety regulation aspects, political implications and future collaborations, to develop affordable technological bricks and to establish roadmap for the development and the future implantation of a fully functional laser protection system. This paper will present the progress of the CLEANSPACE project.