报道了一种在轨行星防御系统，该系统能加热威胁目标表面达到汽化点，从而产生推力使目标汽化消失或变轨移除。该系统命名为“行星攻击与探测定向能系统(DE-STAR)”，是一个通过太阳光伏电池供电的千瓦级激光相位锁定阵列，模块化设计可实现后续开发、风险低、技术共享等优点。该系统主要目的是利用聚焦定向能激光提高被照射物体表面温度至3000 K，直接汽化大部分物质材料，汽化过程中产生的反作用力将使小行星轨道发生变化，从而避免撞击地球的危险发生。该技术的前期成果可用于空间碎片清理。

An orbital planetary defense system which is capable of heating the surface of potentially hazardous objects to the vaporization point as a feasible approach to impact risk mitigation is proposed. The system is called DE-STAR for directed energy system for targeting of asteroids and exploration. DE-STAR is a modular phased array of kilowatt class lasers powered by photovoltaic′s. Modular design allows for incremental development, lowering cost, minimizing risk, and technological co-development. The main objective of DE-STAR is to use the focused directed energy to raise the surface spot temperature to 3000 K, allowing direct vaporization of all known substances. In the process of heating the surface ejecting evaporated material a large reaction force alters the asteroid′s orbit, so the collision risk is decreased. The previous results can be used in the space debris removal and cleaning.