Laser Broom

Laser broom refers to the ground-based laser beam-powered propulsion system that is aimed to sweep space debris out of the path of other artificial satellites such as the International Space Station.

Recent NASA research (2011) indicates that firing a laser beam at a piece of space junk could alter velocity by 0.04 inches (1.0 mm) per second. Keeping it up for a few hours per day could alter its course by 650 feet (200 m) per day. (Wikipedia)

How Laser Broom Works?

In this system very powerful lasers are designed to target debris between one and ten centimetres in diameter.

Laser broom is intended to be used at high enough power to punch through the atmosphere with enough remaining power to ablate material from the target. The ablating material imparts a small thrust that lowers its orbital perigee into the upper atmosphere, thereby increasing drag so that its remaining orbital life is short. The laser would operate in pulsed mode to avoid self-shielding of the target by the ablated plasma. The performance of this system is well-below that required for an effective anti-satellite weapon.