Free Space Debris and Other Threats From Outer Space by Joseph N. Pelton Page A

space debris removal are most probably military entities, and this gives rise to concerns about space weapons and military uses of systems developed to remove space debris from orbit.
    Plan B: Collision Avoidance Systems Using Lasers
    There is at this stage considerable skepticism that any of the above technological means will come to maturity and demonstrate operational capability at reasonable expense any time soon. This is why there is considerable attention to what might be considered Plan B. This would be to use lower energy (non-weapons’ grade) laser systems to pulse a debris object that is considered likely to collide with another orbital object for long enough to divert the orbit enough to avoid the collision. Since the speeds are so rapid, only a small slowing of the velocity drops the orbit sufficiently to avoid the collision (Fig.  5.3 ).
    Fig. 5.3
    Diversion of orbital objects via laser pulses to avoid a collision
    Such a process does not require orbital launches and would thus be far less expensive than any of the active removal processes. A review of this process thus reveals the following conclusions.
    Technology Approach: This approach would involve the aiming of a focused laser beam toward a satellite or large piece of orbital debris that is determined to be in danger of collision, in order to alter the orbit by lowering it to a lesser altitude. In light of the very high speeds that orbiting objects travel around Earth, only a very small incremental velocity change can serve to avoid an impending collision, especially if the detected possible collision is detected well in advance. This is not of course a solution but a useful mitigation technique that would delay the buildup of new debris and avoid major collisions that could generate thousands of new debris elements.
    Level of Readiness and Feasibility: This approach is one of the more mature technological concepts and would certainly be the most cost effective in that it would not require the launch and deployment of space assets to cope with the buildup of new debris elements.
    Policy and Legal Concerns: The medium intensity laser that would use photons to change a satellite or debris element might still be seen as a weapon. It has been suggested that the nation responsible for the launch of the affected space object could be given operational control of the laser so that officials of the country that had launched the craft or debris element would be responsible for the diversion process.

Joseph N. Pelton SpringerBriefs in Space Development Space Debris and Other Threats from Outer Space 2013 10.1007/978-1-4614-6714-4_6 © Joseph N. Pelton 2013

    6. The Threat of Space Weather
    Joseph N. Pelton 1   
    (1)
    40th St. North 4025, Arlington, 22207, USA
     
     
    Joseph N. Pelton
    Email: [email protected]
    Abstract
    Solar energetic particles (SEPs) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) pose a significant threat to in-orbit satellites as well as to Earth’s infrastructure in terms of extensive damage that could be caused to the modern electronic grid, computer processes, telecommunications networks, all types of electronic devices (even pipelines) and essentially everything that can conduct electricity.
    The World, the race, the soull — in space and time the universes,
    All bound as benefitting each alll — surely going somewhere.
    –Walt Whitman, On Going Somewhere

    Coping with Solar Storms
    Solar energetic particles (SEPs) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) pose a significant threat to in-orbit satellites as well as to Earth’s infrastructure in terms of extensive damage that could be caused to the modern electronic grid, computer processes, telecommunications networks, all types of electronic devices (even pipelines) and essentially everything that can conduct electricity. In light of the pervasiveness of electronic devices and electrical systems throughout modern society the risks grow larger each year on an almost exponential basis. A