Google something like: laser remove orbital debris
I don't know how old this idea is, but I think I saw some discussion on sci.space.tech a long while ago. (Yes, my hair is getting gray.)
Edit: After reading a bit myself (http://spie.org/x84761.xml), the lasers are Earth based these days (IIRC, the laser was in a high orbit in sci.space.tech) because adaptive optics is "easy" now. It should be less risk of frying satellites with Earth viewing optics if the laser is in orbit, but that should just be a software problem.
I don't know how old this idea is, but I think I saw some discussion on sci.space.tech a long while ago. (Yes, my hair is getting gray.)
Edit: After reading a bit myself (http://spie.org/x84761.xml), the lasers are Earth based these days (IIRC, the laser was in a high orbit in sci.space.tech) because adaptive optics is "easy" now. It should be less risk of frying satellites with Earth viewing optics if the laser is in orbit, but that should just be a software problem.