The plasma brake is expected to function best in the destruction of satellites weighing less than 200 kilograms. If researchers can come up with a suitable transport satellite, the jet could also be used to clear up space debris.
The invention is a plasma brake device based on coulomb drag interaction between the ionospheric plasma and a negatively charged thin tether.
A solar wind sail devised by Institute researchers will guide the plasma brake to targets for deorbiting.
Preliminary tests on both the plasma brake and solar wind sail will be carried out using the Estonian ETSCube-1 small satellite, which is due to be launched in 2012.
Both pioneering inventions have attracted considerable interest in Europe.
Space debris in the form of abandoned satellites is a growing concern, especially at the heavily populated 600–1000km. altitude orbits.