Abstract

The present chapter presents the advanced design and technology of special equipment (SECSL) which uses concentrated solar light for deviation of asteroids and cleaning the space of debris. The elliptical orbit of any cosmic body as presented in Einstein's general theory of relativity is rotating around the ellipse center. The trajectory of a cosmic body is permanently affected by the gravity of other moving cosmic bodies. In the case of asteroids (relatively small masses), orbit changes can lead to a collision with the Earth. At this very moment, our civilization has no efficient and reliable mean to destroy or divert a cosmic body heading toward the Earth. This new idea represents a "light canon" which uses concentrated solar light for deviation or vaporization of dangerous asteroids. The equipment is composed out of two parabolic mirrors (one large and one small) with the same focal point and coincident axes. The mirrors reflect the sunlight between them hence the term "concentrated solar light." Next, a similar idea to the SECSL equipment is presented but applied to space debris caused mostly by humans and a new way of disintegrating satellites, spent rocket boosters, thrust chambers, etc. in the Earth's atmosphere during reentry.

Keywords: parabolic mirror, concentrated solar light, equipment, asteroid, satellite, disintegration, cosmic body, deorbit, reentry, space debris, atmosphere

## 1. Introduction

Today, there is no reliable nor efficient system which can destroy or deflect asteroids or comets on a collision trajectory with the Earth. At this very moment, we cannot comprehend what could happen if an asteroid impacts the Earth. On April 13, 2029, we might experience just that because asteroid Apophis will pass below the orbit of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and its exact trajectory cannot be predicted.

Albert Einstein, in his general theory of relativity, says that the elliptical orbit of any cosmic body is rotating around the ellipse center (i.e., the perihelion of the orbit is moving continuously). The elliptical orbit or trajectory of any cosmic body (i.e., asteroids, comets, etc.) can be permanently altered by the gravity of other asteroids and planets. Due to this reason, asteroids can be involved in collisions that cause sudden trajectory changes. The trajectory change could one day be toward the Earth, because asteroids have relatively small masses; thus a change in its trajectory is significant.

For asteroids larger than 1000 m, the revised number is down to 981 from a prior estimate of about 1000. Out of the 981 large-sized asteroids, NASA managed

Technologies for Deviation of Asteroids and Cleaning of Earth Orbit by Space Debris

The number of asteroids that disintegrate into the atmosphere is surprisingly very high (see Figure 3) which demonstrates that the problem with asteroid impact

Two proposed solutions for the Earth's protection against asteroids are synthesized in [1]. The first protection method is presented in Figure 4, and it relies on capturing small celestial objects. The second method is presented in Figure 5, and it relies on a satellite carrying a nuclear-powered laser which deflects asteroids

Other solutions propose asteroid gravity tractor, kinetic impact, nuclear explosive devices, etc. It is quite clear that these solutions are not completely satisfactory.

Number of asteroids that have been disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere during 1994–2013.

to estimate with great precision the size of each individual.

through local vaporization (laser ablation).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86565

is very alarming.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

11

Asteroid capture system.

According to estimates, there are over 150 million asteroids in our solar system, most of them are grouped in what is called an asteroid belt (see Figure 1) and have trajectories passing close to the Earth (see Figure 2). NASA's revised estimate of the number of near-Earth asteroids provided by Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) during the NEOWISE project had the number of larger than 100-m objects which are considered medium- to large-sized asteroids at 500. Near-Earth asteroids smaller than 100 m were not studied, and at a later time, near-Earth comets will be analyzed.

Figure 1. Asteroid belt.

Figure 2. Near-Earth discovered steroids.

Technologies for Deviation of Asteroids and Cleaning of Earth Orbit by Space Debris DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86565

For asteroids larger than 1000 m, the revised number is down to 981 from a prior estimate of about 1000. Out of the 981 large-sized asteroids, NASA managed to estimate with great precision the size of each individual.

The number of asteroids that disintegrate into the atmosphere is surprisingly very high (see Figure 3) which demonstrates that the problem with asteroid impact is very alarming.

Two proposed solutions for the Earth's protection against asteroids are synthesized in [1]. The first protection method is presented in Figure 4, and it relies on capturing small celestial objects. The second method is presented in Figure 5, and it relies on a satellite carrying a nuclear-powered laser which deflects asteroids through local vaporization (laser ablation).

Other solutions propose asteroid gravity tractor, kinetic impact, nuclear explosive devices, etc. It is quite clear that these solutions are not completely satisfactory.

Figure 4. Asteroid capture system.

Earth, because asteroids have relatively small masses; thus a change in its trajectory

According to estimates, there are over 150 million asteroids in our solar system, most of them are grouped in what is called an asteroid belt (see Figure 1) and have trajectories passing close to the Earth (see Figure 2). NASA's revised estimate of the number of near-Earth asteroids provided by Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) during the NEOWISE project had the number of larger than 100-m objects which are considered medium- to large-sized asteroids at 500. Near-Earth asteroids smaller than 100 m were not studied, and at a later time, near-Earth

is significant.

Figure 1. Asteroid belt.

Figure 2.

10

Near-Earth discovered steroids.

comets will be analyzed.

Planetology - Future Explorations

Figure 5. Asteroid deflection using laser rays.

Asteroids can be very large objects, most of them are rotating conglomerates formed through accumulation of debris after colliding with other asteroids.

Measurements of rotation rates of large asteroids located in the asteroids belt yielded no upper limit. No asteroid with a diameter larger than 100 m has a rotation period smaller than 2.2 h. However, a solid object formed through accumulation of debris after collisions between asteroids should be able to rotate much faster. Due to these issues, the Earth's protection against asteroids has no satisfactory solution just yet.

Today, the growth of space activities is exponential, but this growth has generated an important problem: the need for rapid disintegration of space debris after reentry in the Earth's atmosphere. Space debris as stated earlier represents nonfunctional man-made objects or fragments of such objects. Only 6% of

Technologies for Deviation of Asteroids and Cleaning of Earth Orbit by Space Debris

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86565

catalogued objects are functional, the rest of them are space debris [3]. At the end of their operational life, satellites reenter the Earth's atmosphere being disintegrated through burning initiated by the friction with air. This is happening for the final rocket stages which become space debris after the propellant has been depleted. In many cases the space debris fallen on the ground had large dimensions (helium

The lifetime of a man-made object is very long; for example, satellites of the Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre or Satellite for Observation of Earth (SPOT) family placed on a Sun-synchronous orbit can orbit for about 200 years at 822 km altitude representing a high risk for other satellites [6]. Regulations were issued for direct deorbiting of satellites after finishing their operational life, but these regulations do not solve the need for rapid burning of satellites in the atmosphere; thus big

The European Space Agency (ESA) came with a proposal to solve this problem

The "Design for Demise" proposes that separation of satellite into components due to the centrifugal forces should be done during the reentry procedure. Although this is a good idea, it still does not respond to the need of rapid burning in the atmosphere, and again big chunks of unburned metal could fall on the ground. For each of the upper-mentioned problems, there is a potential solution in the form of a system or a new way of designing space equipment. In the next chapter,

under the name of "Design for Demise," according to which space equipment

2. Special equipment which uses concentrated solar light for earth

The special equipment which uses concentrated solar light for Earth protection against asteroids proposed in this paper could be placed on a solar orbit close to the Earth or on the Earth's orbit. This special equipment represents a system which

design must take into account the on-ground safety requirements [8].

tanks, thrust chambers, propellant tank, pressure sphere) [5].

chunks of unburned metal could fall on the ground [7].

each system will be presented in detail.

Figure 7.

13

Space debris in the GEO region [3].

protection against asteroids: "light gun"

Also in the near-Earth region, there are not only asteroids and comets, there's also man-made debris as a result of space exploration missions manned and unmanned. Man-made space debris already represents a great threat to the safety of space exploration and exploitation. Most of the space debris is concentrated in the near-Earth space region in the low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary earth orbit (GEO) (see Figures 6 and 7). Space debris are composed of nonfunctional rocket boosters, spent rocket upper stages, paint flakes, chunks of slag from solid rocket motors, old science experiment equipment, nonfunctional satellites, various fragments which are the result of collisions, satellite components destroyed by missiles, and materials detached from the International Space Station (ISS) [4].

Just like asteroids, space debris can be classified by their dimensions:


Figure 6. Space debris in the LEO region [2].

Technologies for Deviation of Asteroids and Cleaning of Earth Orbit by Space Debris DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86565

#### Figure 7. Space debris in the GEO region [3].

Asteroids can be very large objects, most of them are rotating conglomerates formed through accumulation of debris after colliding with other asteroids.

just yet.

Figure 5.

Asteroid deflection using laser rays.

Planetology - Future Explorations

the satellite.

Figure 6.

12

Space debris in the LEO region [2].

Measurements of rotation rates of large asteroids located in the asteroids belt yielded no upper limit. No asteroid with a diameter larger than 100 m has a rotation period smaller than 2.2 h. However, a solid object formed through accumulation of debris after collisions between asteroids should be able to rotate much faster. Due to these issues, the Earth's protection against asteroids has no satisfactory solution

Also in the near-Earth region, there are not only asteroids and comets, there's

unmanned. Man-made space debris already represents a great threat to the safety of space exploration and exploitation. Most of the space debris is concentrated in the near-Earth space region in the low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary earth orbit (GEO) (see Figures 6 and 7). Space debris are composed of nonfunctional rocket boosters, spent rocket upper stages, paint flakes, chunks of slag from solid rocket motors, old science experiment equipment, nonfunctional satellites, various fragments which are the result of collisions, satellite components destroyed by missiles,

• Category I: size <1 cm—can cause significant damage to vulnerable parts of

• Category II: size 1 to 10 cm—can cause serious damage to or destroy a satellite;

• Category III: size >10 cm—can destroy a satellite by collision; it can be tracked,

also man-made debris as a result of space exploration missions manned and

and materials detached from the International Space Station (ISS) [4]. Just like asteroids, space debris can be classified by their dimensions:

there is no effective shielding against this category of debris.

and the satellite can perform evasive maneuvers to avoid collision.

Today, the growth of space activities is exponential, but this growth has generated an important problem: the need for rapid disintegration of space debris after reentry in the Earth's atmosphere. Space debris as stated earlier represents nonfunctional man-made objects or fragments of such objects. Only 6% of catalogued objects are functional, the rest of them are space debris [3]. At the end of their operational life, satellites reenter the Earth's atmosphere being disintegrated through burning initiated by the friction with air. This is happening for the final rocket stages which become space debris after the propellant has been depleted. In many cases the space debris fallen on the ground had large dimensions (helium tanks, thrust chambers, propellant tank, pressure sphere) [5].

The lifetime of a man-made object is very long; for example, satellites of the Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre or Satellite for Observation of Earth (SPOT) family placed on a Sun-synchronous orbit can orbit for about 200 years at 822 km altitude representing a high risk for other satellites [6]. Regulations were issued for direct deorbiting of satellites after finishing their operational life, but these regulations do not solve the need for rapid burning of satellites in the atmosphere; thus big chunks of unburned metal could fall on the ground [7].

The European Space Agency (ESA) came with a proposal to solve this problem under the name of "Design for Demise," according to which space equipment design must take into account the on-ground safety requirements [8].

The "Design for Demise" proposes that separation of satellite into components due to the centrifugal forces should be done during the reentry procedure. Although this is a good idea, it still does not respond to the need of rapid burning in the atmosphere, and again big chunks of unburned metal could fall on the ground.

For each of the upper-mentioned problems, there is a potential solution in the form of a system or a new way of designing space equipment. In the next chapter, each system will be presented in detail.

## 2. Special equipment which uses concentrated solar light for earth protection against asteroids: "light gun"

The special equipment which uses concentrated solar light for Earth protection against asteroids proposed in this paper could be placed on a solar orbit close to the Earth or on the Earth's orbit. This special equipment represents a system which
