Tokyo (AFP) – From laser beams and wooden satellites to galactic tug services, startups in Japan are trying to imagine ways to tackle a growing environmental problem: space junk.

Debris such as spent satellites, rocket parts and collision debris have been accumulating since the beginning of the space age, with the problem accelerating in recent decades. “We are entering an era when many satellites will be launched one after the other. Space will become more and more crowded,” said Miki Ito, general manager of Astroscale, a company dedicated to “space sustainability.” “There are simulations that suggest that space will not be usable if we continue like this,” he told AFP. “So we need to improve the sky environment before it’s too late.” The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that about one million pieces of debris larger than one centimeter — large enough to “disable a spacecraft” — are in Earth’s orbit. They’re already causing problems, from a near-miss in January with a Chinese satellite to a five-millimeter hole that hit a robotic arm on the International Space Station last year. “It is difficult to predict exactly how fast the amount of space debris will increase,” said Toru Yamamoto, a senior researcher at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). But “it is an issue that raises real concerns about the sustainable use of space.” With satellites now critical to GPS, broadband and banking data, collisions pose significant risks to Earth. Tadanori Fukushima has seen the scale of the problem in his work as an engineer with Tokyo-based satellite and broadcaster SKY Perfect JSAT. “We need to improve the celestial environment before it’s too late,” Astroscale general manager Miki Ito told Kazuhiro NOGI AFP
“A fixed satellite would receive about 100 ‘debris approach’ alerts a year,” he told AFP. International “satellite disposal guidelines” include rules such as moving used satellites into “graveyard orbits” — but the increase in debris means more is needed, experts say.

“No Panacea”

Fukushima launched an internal launch in 2018 and envisions using a laser beam to vaporize the surface of space debris, creating a pulse of energy that propels the object into a new orbit. The beaming laser means you don’t have to touch any debris, which is generally said to be moving at about 7.5 kilometers per second — much faster than a bullet. For now, the project is experimental, but Fukushima hopes to test the concept in space by spring 2025, in collaboration with several research institutions. Japanese companies, along with some in Europe and the United States, are leading the way in developing solutions, according to Fukushima. Some projects are further afield, including Astroscale’s space “tug,” which uses a magnet to collect defunct satellites. “If a car breaks down, you call a towing service. If a satellite breaks down and sits there, it faces the risk of colliding with debris and needs to be picked up quickly,” Ito explained. The company conducted a successful test last year and envisions one day equipping customer satellites with a “docking plate” equivalent to a trailer hitch, allowing collection later. Engineer Tadanori Fukushima of the SKY Perfect JSAT satellite operator envisions using a laser beam to vaporize the surface of space debris Kazuhiro NOGI AFP
Astroscale, which has a contract with ESA, plans a second test by the end of 2024 and hopes to launch its service soon after. Other efforts approach the problem at the source, creating satellites that produce no debris. Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry envision a wooden satellite that launches into orbit on a rocket and burns up safely when it falls to Earth. That project is also in its infancy — in March, pieces of wood were sent to the International Space Station to test how they respond to cosmic rays. The space agencies have their own programs, with JAXA focusing on large debris over three tons. And internationally, companies such as US-based Orbit Fab and Australia’s Neumann Space have proposed ideas such as in-orbit refueling to extend the life of satellites. The problem is complex enough that it will require a number of solutions, JAXA’s Yamamoto said. “There is no panacea.” © 2022 AFP

title: “Using Lasers And Tows Japanese Companies Target Space Junk " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-09” author: “Madelyn Rivers”

From laser beams and wooden satellites to galactic tug services, startups in Japan are trying to imagine ways to tackle a growing environmental problem: space junk. Debris such as spent satellites, rocket parts and collision debris have been accumulating since the beginning of the space age, with the problem accelerating in recent decades. “We are entering an era when many satellites will be launched one after the other. Space will become more and more crowded,” said Miki Ito, general manager of Astroscale, a company dedicated to “space sustainability.” “There are simulations that suggest that space will not be usable if we continue like this,” he told AFP. “So we need to improve the sky environment before it’s too late.” The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that around one million pieces of debris larger than one centimeter – large enough to “disable a spacecraft” – are in Earth’s orbit. They’re already causing problems, from a near-miss in January with a Chinese satellite to a five-millimeter hole that hit a robotic arm on the International Space Station last year. “It is difficult to predict exactly how fast the amount of space debris will increase,” said Toru Yamamoto, a senior researcher at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). But “it is an issue that raises real concerns about the sustainable use of space.” With satellites now critical to GPS, broadband and banking data, collisions pose significant risks to Earth. “We need to improve the celestial environment before it’s too late,” said Miki Ito, general manager of Astroscale. Tadanori Fukushima has seen the scale of the problem in his work as an engineer with Tokyo-based satellite and broadcaster SKY Perfect JSAT. “A fixed satellite would receive about 100 ‘debris approach’ alerts a year,” he told AFP. International “satellite disposal guidelines” include rules such as moving used satellites into “graveyard orbit”—but the increase in debris means more is needed, experts say. “No Panacea” Fukushima launched an internal launch in 2018 and envisions using a laser beam to vaporize the surface of space debris, creating a pulse of energy that propels the object into a new orbit. The beaming laser means you don’t have to touch any debris, which is generally said to be moving at about 7.5 kilometers per second—much faster than a bullet. For now, the project is experimental, but Fukushima hopes to test the concept in space by spring 2025, in collaboration with several research institutions. Japanese companies, along with some in Europe and the United States, are leading the way in developing solutions, according to Fukushima. Some projects are further afield, including Astroscale’s space “tug,” which uses a magnet to collect defunct satellites. Engineer Tadanori Fukushima of the SKY Perfect JSAT satellite operator envisions using a laser beam to vaporize the surface of space debris. “If a car breaks down, you call a towing service. If a satellite breaks down and sits there, it faces the risk of colliding with debris and needs to be picked up quickly,” Ito explained. The company conducted a successful test last year and envisions one day equipping customer satellites with a “docking plate” equivalent to a trailer hitch, allowing collection later. Astroscale, which has a contract with ESA, plans a second test by the end of 2024 and hopes to launch its service soon after. Other efforts approach the problem at the source, creating satellites that produce no debris. Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry envision a wooden satellite that launches into orbit on a rocket and burns up safely when it falls to Earth. That project is also in its infancy—in March, pieces of wood were sent to the International Space Station to test how they respond to cosmic rays. The space agencies have their own programs, with JAXA focusing on large debris over three tons. And internationally, companies such as US-based Orbit Fab and Australia’s Neumann Space have proposed ideas such as in-orbit refueling to extend the life of satellites. The problem is complex enough that it will require a number of solutions, JAXA’s Yamamoto said. “There is no panacea.” Sustainable connectivity in space © 2022 AFP
Reference: Using lasers and ‘tugs’, Japanese firms target space junk (2022, July 8) Retrieved July 8, 2022 by
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