Researchers are developing a realistic version of object-attracting beams, with the goal of moving inactive satellites out of geostationary orbit and reducing the risk of future collisions. Unlike the sci-fi versions, these beams use electrostatic attraction technology to move large space debris without any physical contact.
The idea arose after the collision of the satellites Iridium 33 and Kosmos 2251, when more than 1,800 fragments of debris were created. Professor Hanspeter Schaub of the University of Colorado Bolder imagined that dead satellites could be moved by the attraction between positively and negatively charged objects.
Rays that safely dispose of space debris
The service spacecraft would “electrify” the inactive satellite with a negative charge by means of an electron gun, while it would itself retain a positive charge. The electrostatic force would keep them connected at a distance of up to 30 meters, which would allow the satellite to be slowly pulled into the “graveyard orbit”. The move would take more than a month, but it would completely avoid the risks of contact, breaking structures and creating additional waste.
Electron guns and the limited strength of the attractive force are the main technical limitations, and the whole process would be slow and expensive. However, the method offers a key advantage: it is completely non-contact and reduces the risk of creating new fragments.
The team is currently conducting experiments in the vacuum ECLIPS system, and a prototype could be ready for a space test within the next ten years, provided funding is secured.
Experts believe that the technology is feasible and represents a significant step towards safer orbit management, although it will not be the final solution to the entire space debris problem, writes Live Science.