Objective
This proposal aims to answer the FP7 Security research call SPA-2010-2.3.02 and the need to protect space assets from orbit collision. The number of debris in Low Earth Orbit is exponentially increasing with, in the short term, potential inter debris collisions. For medium size debris (between 1 cm and several dozens of cm) no effective and affordable protecting solution is available. This project also intends to protect the environment from chain reaction of debris production.
Overall CLEANSPACE objective is to define a global architecture (including surveillance, identification and tracking) for an innovative ground-based laser solution which can remove hazardous medium debris around selected space assets. This approach is divided into three steps:
To propose an efficient and affordable global system architecture by taking up survey, tracking, identification and debris treatment by laser system fully in complement with Space Situational Awareness (SSA) ESA programme,
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.
The study approach is built to be fully complementary to SSA programme.
This study is fully part of FP7, SPACE Theme because it will allow Europe to be a key actor for laser debris removal system able to discuss the subject with the USA and Russia and able to guide future ESA work and regulations.
The main driver of the project will be to reduce the cost of such a system focusing on the Laser technology brick which is the key to propose an affordable system. Scalable laser architecture, ceramic laser active material, laser coherent coupling, alternative narrowband pump sources and laser matter interaction will be the technology fingers of the CLEAN-SPACE innovations.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
FP7-SPACE-2010-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
CP - Collaborative project (generic)Coordinator
45100 ORLEANS
France