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Japan and India Startups Collaborate on Laser-Equipped Satellite for Space Debris Removal

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Startups from Japan and India have announced a partnership to explore the potential of using laser-equipped satellites to address the growing problem of space debris. The collaboration, revealed on Tuesday, involves Orbital Lasers, a Tokyo-based company, and InspeCity, an Indian robotics firm. Their goal is to develop innovative in-space services, including the de-orbiting of defunct satellites and extending the operational lifespan of spacecraft.

Innovative Approach to Space Debris

Orbital Lasers, spun off from the Japanese satellite company SKY Perfect JSAT earlier this year, is working on a technology that uses laser energy to neutralize space junk. The system will vaporize small sections of debris’ surfaces, causing it to stop rotating and making it easier for servicing spacecraft to capture and de-orbit it. The companies aim to test this system in space and make it available for operators after 2027, according to Aditya Baraskar, the global business lead at Orbital Lasers. If regulatory approvals are granted in both India and Japan, the laser system could be mounted on InspeCity’s satellites.

Business Potential and Strategic Collaboration

The partnership was formalized with a preliminary agreement, marking the start of a feasibility study into the commercial potential of these space debris mitigation technologies. InspeCity, founded in 2022, secured $1.5 million in funding last year, while Orbital Lasers has raised 900 million yen (approximately $5.8 million) since its inception in January.

Growing Space Traffic and the Need for Action

The initiative comes as orbital congestion becomes an urgent issue. A United Nations panel on space traffic management highlighted the growing need to track and manage objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) due to the rising number of satellites and space debris. With over 100 companies already involved in space servicing, including satellite constellations and debris mitigation, the market is rapidly expanding. Nobu Okada, CEO of Astroscale, a Japanese leader in debris mitigation, emphasized the necessity of addressing this challenge to ensure the sustainability of space activities.

Expanding India-Japan Space Collaboration

This project represents another milestone in the ongoing India-Japan space collaboration. Both countries are working together on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, with a possible launch by 2026. Additionally, Skyroot, an Indian rocket manufacturer, and HEX20, a satellite builder, are collaborating with ispace, a Japanese lunar exploration company, on a lunar orbiter mission.

Strengthening Commercial Ties

The growing commercial ties between Japan and India also reflect efforts to expand space cooperation beyond traditional areas. Masayasu Ishida, CEO of SPACETIDE, a Tokyo-based nonprofit hosting space business conferences, explained that the two countries’ collaborations, such as using Japanese satellite data for India’s disaster management and agriculture, have the potential to broaden into other sectors, including manufacturing. This is in line with India’s “Make in India” initiative, which promotes local production and manufacturing.

 

The Need for Lunar Timekeeping: Why Scientists Urgently Want to Send Clocks to the Moon

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The idea that time behaves differently depending on where you are in the universe has been well-established since Einstein’s theory of relativity. On Earth, the differences are minute and often negligible for most people, but as humanity sets its sights on establishing permanent lunar bases, the idiosyncrasies of time become critical.

On the lunar surface, a day would be approximately 56 microseconds shorter than on Earth due to weaker gravity and other relativistic effects. This might seem like an insignificant difference, but over time, it could lead to substantial inconsistencies in timekeeping, which are crucial for coordination and navigation in space exploration.

Creating a Lunar Time Scale

NASA and its international partners are working on creating a new “time scale” specifically for the moon. This system of measurement would account for the unique way time passes on the lunar surface. Unlike simply establishing a lunar time zone, this time scale would require an entirely new framework to ensure that seconds on the moon are accurately measured and can be related back to Earth time.

The White House has recently directed NASA to develop this time scale by the end of 2026, aligning with NASA’s goal to return astronauts to the moon. This directive underscores the importance of precise timekeeping for future lunar missions and settlements.

The Challenges of Lunar Timekeeping

Timekeeping on Earth is standardized through Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is maintained by a network of atomic clocks. These clocks account for the effects of gravity on time by adjusting for the slower ticking of clocks at lower elevations, where gravity is stronger.

However, on the moon, the situation becomes more complex. Time not only ticks faster due to weaker gravity but is also influenced by the moon’s motion and the need for synchronization with Earth time. NASA and other space agencies are considering deploying a network of precise clocks on the moon, potentially using atomic clocks and crystal oscillators, to establish this new time scale.

Practical Applications and Next Steps

Accurate timekeeping will be essential for lunar operations, including navigation, communication, and scientific experiments. Astronauts on the moon will need to synchronize their activities with both lunar and Earth time, which requires clocks that can operate with extreme precision in the moon’s unique environment.

The exact type of clocks to be used, their placement, and who will bear the cost are still under discussion. However, a network of synchronized clocks, potentially placed on satellites or on the lunar surface, would likely be necessary to maintain this new lunar time scale.

As humanity prepares to return to the moon and potentially establish a permanent presence there, solving the problem of lunar timekeeping is a crucial step. The next few years will be pivotal in developing and implementing the systems that will allow us to track time accurately on our closest celestial neighbor.