"Japanese Startup's Ground-Based Laser System Targets Space Debris"

A Japan-based startup, EX-Fusion, is developing a ground-based laser system to tackle the issue of space debris by using high-powered lasers to track and slow down small space fragments, causing them to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up. This innovative approach, in collaboration with EOS Space Systems, aims to address the escalating problem of space junk in low earth orbit, which poses a significant collision risk to operational satellites and the International Space Station. The company's technology utilizes diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers to apply force to fast-moving debris, functioning like brakes to remove the space fragments. This ground-based strategy sets EX-Fusion apart from satellite-based solutions and could complement existing services for removing larger debris fragments.