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ExtremeTech has an article suggesting the International Space Station may add a Laser "CAN-non" in coming years.
The business end of the proposed laser system would be a Coherent Amplification Network (CAN) laser that can focus a single powerful beam on a piece of debris. The laser would vaporize the surface of the target, causing a plume of plasma to push the object away from the station and toward the atmosphere.
This is still just a proposal, but a test version of the laser might be deployed to the station in a few years.
The Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) is scheduled to be installed on Japan's ISS module in 2017. This is not by design a space-junk-killing piece of equipment. It's intended to monitor the atmosphere for ultraviolet emissions caused by cosmic rays.
However it might serve as an experimental platform for testing (at much lower power) the capability of slight deflections of orbiting space junk.
We discussed the general problem of space junk here on Soylent News at the beginning of the month.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday May 19 2015, @02:13PM
I think the plan is to get the things to thrust towards the earth. Using the laser to vaporize a bit on one side causes it to become a tiny little rocket for a moment. If you get it to thrust towards the earth. then on the next orbit it will be below you.
Now, this might not help for something that is in a highly elliptical orbit, since its apogee would still be above you. Also a problem for things that are spinning. But if you can get it to dip further into the atmosphere, the Earth will drag it in. My guess is this thing would not make the objects noticeably smaller, so tracking on the next orbit isn't an issue.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Tuesday May 19 2015, @06:24PM
You merely try to get it to thrust against the direction of travel.
Orbital mechanics will handle the rest.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday May 20 2015, @09:30PM
Ahh yes, you are absolutely correct, It is all a matter of velocity, not direction. I should know better.
Though I wonder how this lets you deal with debris if you are the one catching up to the debris when it crosses your orbit. I suppose in that situation the space station or craft with the laser also has it's own propulsion and would perform a maneuver to avoid. Once it passes the debris by, it can pew pew it with the laser to get the debris to deorbit.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh