Space-based application of the CAN laser to LIDAR and orbital debris remediation

Development of pulsed lasers for space-based science missions entail many additional challenges compared to terrestrial experiments. For systems requiring short pulses a parts per thousand(a)1 ns with energies > 100 mJ and fast repetition rates > 10 kHz there are currently few if no laser architectures capable of operating with high electrical efficiency > 20% and have good system stability. The emergence of a mulit-channel fiber-based Coherent-Amplifying-Network or CAN laser potentially enables such capability for space based missions. Here in this article we present an analysis of two such missions scaling up in pulse energy from a parts per thousand 100 mJ for a supercontinuum LIDAR application utilising atmospheric filamentation to the higher energy demands needed for space debris remediation requiring a parts per thousand 10 J pulses. This scalability of the CAN laser provides pathways for development of the core science and technology where many new novel space applications can be made possible.