Two-way ion thruster could blow space junk out of orbit

A team of researchers led by Kazunori Takahashi of Tohoku University in Japan and the Australian National University have come up with plasma beam that can push space debris out of orbit. Mounted on a satellite, the two-way facing beam is produced by a bespoke ion thruster that uses its discharge to decelerate debris so it can burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

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Category: Space

Tags:

• Australian National University
• Debris
• ion engine
• Tohoku University

from New Atlas (Gizmag) https://ift.tt/2xPSNdv