Domestic Development of Space Laser to Capture Enemy Satellites and Asteroids

GIST Opens Space Laser Research Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic researchers are embarking on the localization of high-power laser technology to monitor and destroy hostile artificial satellites or asteroids in space.

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) held an opening ceremony for the "Space Laser Research Center" at the Institute of Advanced Photonics on the 9th.

As human activities expand into space, such as the recent Nuriho launch in Goheung, Jeonnam, the number of satellites passing over the Korean Peninsula has increased to about 1,000 per day, raising concerns about collisions between artificial satellites and space objects, as well as the risk of space debris falling to the ground. To avoid such collisions and predict ground falls to minimize damage, it is necessary to secure a space surveillance system that tracks precise orbital information of artificial satellites and space objects, which requires research and development of high-performance laser technology.

The research center plans to actively utilize the ultrashort pulse and high-power laser technologies accumulated at the Institute of Advanced Photonics to secure future advanced laser technologies necessary for space development and space defense in the upcoming space era.

Specifically, the center will develop nanosecond and picosecond lasers for precise distance measurement of space objects, artificial star lasers for capturing images of space objects, high-quality high-power lasers in the mid-infrared and visible light ranges, and core space laser technologies (extreme environment tolerance, lightweight design).

The research center consists of 11 researchers from the Institute of Advanced Photonics, experts in high-power solid-state lasers and fiber lasers. It is organized into four detailed core groups: precision distance measurement laser research, artificial star laser research, fiber laser research, and mid-infrared laser research. It will receive 6.9 billion KRW in research funding over five years from this year through 2025.

Center Director Lee Sung-gu stated, "We will focus our research capabilities on securing and preempting high-performance cutting-edge laser technologies needed in the upcoming space era," adding, "We want to develop high-power advanced lasers used in precise space surveillance systems capable of identifying space objects, creating a foundation to develop core space laser technologies purely with domestic technology, which have restricted technology transfer from advanced countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.