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Great engineering feat from Capasso's idea - an integrated flat lens electrically controlled enabling dynamic beam steering. Reconfigurabilility is the aim. The lens can be used microscope systems, holographic and projection imaging, LIDAR and laser printing. Besides working now on the mid-IR, visible light is the target.

Some people answering the question 'What's cooler than blasting space debris with lasers...?'.

If it fires in both directions, can we align it such that it deorbits two debris with one shot?

:) the idea of having this method for debris removal is actually an ACT one from Claudio Bombardelli (ACT RF in MAD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion-beam_shepherd). This is just a technological device to implement it so that the system on board is simplified (i.e. instead of two engines, you get away with one and a weird nozzle) Marcus, you cannot align it to get rid of two debris as you need to keep the spacecraft close to the debris as this is a long duration acion. One of the two would drift away (can only follow one!)