An apparatus for a space platform for the generation of a magnetic and/or an electric field about the space platform

摘要

An apparatus for a space platform 2 comprises: a solar panel 3 from which electrical power for powering functions of the platform 2 may be used; an electromagnetic 4; and an electrostatic field generator 6 which are respectively configured to generate fields for influencing the trajectory of one or more items of space debris passing within a region of the apparatus. A system comprising a plurality of such space platforms may be placed in an orbit proximal to an orbit containing space debris. An individual space platform or system thereof may be used in a method for displacing earth orbital space debris out of the orbit and either towards the Earth's atmosphere where it is likely to be destroyed by the burning on re-entry into the atmosphere, or into a safer orbit from which it may be collected or in which it may be left.