A Thermal-Solar System for De-Orbiting of Space Debris

摘要

This paper presents a system for removal of space debris, which can be placed on geocentric, heliocentric or Sun-synchronous orbit. The system is composed of two parabolic mirrors, a large one and a small one. The concave face of the large parabolic mirror is oriented toward the concave face of the small parabolic mirror. Sunlight is focused by the large parabolic mirror in its focal point. Then, the light rays are reflected by the small parabolic mirror (which has the same focal point as the large parabolic mirror) and form parallel rays directed along the axis. A guide-tube having a honeycomb structure plated with gold is attached to the convex side of the large parabolic mirror within a spherical articulation. Elastic lens filled with liquid are placed at the end of this guide tube. The guide-tube is normally closed by a gold platted shutter. When the shutter is opened, the light coming from Sun is focused by lens in one focal point onto target debris. The high power of focused light locally vaporizes/ionizes the debris material. The thrust created in this way de-orbits the space debris pushing it toward the Earth surface.