On 2 and 3 October, the GRVC Robotics Lab at AICIA hosted the inaugural STRATOLASER project meeting. This pioneering initiative is part of the European Commission’s EIC Pathfinder programme and is focused on developing new technologies for space debris removal. The meeting, which took place at the Higher Technical School of Engineering, brought together representatives of the international consortium leading this proposal, as well as members of leading organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE).
This is a new way to clean up Earth’s orbit.
The STRATOLASER project (Stratospheric balloon-based laser ablation system for space debris removal) seeks to provide an innovative and efficient solution to one of the major challenges facing the space sector: the accumulation of debris in Earth’s orbit. It is currently estimated that there are more than 2,500 out-of-service satellites, 36,500 fragments larger than 10 centimetres and over a million smaller pieces in orbit, all of which pose a growing risk to space infrastructure.
The GRVC-led proposal focuses on slowing down this debris through laser ablation using a system carried on stratospheric balloons. This strategy significantly reduces costs, maintenance, and operational complexity compared to conventional solutions.
Led by GRVC, the proposal focuses on slowing down this debris using laser ablation, employing a system carried on stratospheric balloons. This strategy significantly reduces costs, maintenance and operational complexity compared to conventional solutions, while improving orbital access and minimising the attenuation of the laser beam by the atmosphere.
A leading international consortium
In addition to GRVC’s leadership, the project involves five international partners: B2Space, which is responsible for developing the stratospheric balloons; the HiLASE Centre and the Pulsed Lasers Centre (CLPU), which are responsible for laser technology and relay mirrors; Fraunhofer FHR, which specialises in radar detection of space debris; and Sapienza University of Rome, which will be responsible for orbital calculations for debris removal.
During the meeting in Seville, the first work packages, schedule of activities and milestones planned for the first 36-month phase of the project were presented. Attendees were also able to visit the GRVC Robotics Lab, where the group showcased its latest technological developments, including a live demonstration of some of the aerial robots and systems that will contribute to the development of STRATOLASER.
