Space Junk: The Final Frontier
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Sep 2, 2011 at 9:00am
I didn't realize the space junk situation was quite so grave. I'm very impressed by this talk of catcher's mitts, large magnets, harpoons, nets and an umbrella-shaped device to sweep up the debris:
The situation is critical, said Mr Kessler, a retired NASA scientist, because colliding debris creates even more of the junk.
"We've lost control of the environment," he said.
A world of pathos in that comment.
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Comments :
Nov '10
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
What goes around, comes around.
Mar '11
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
I wonder if this is where lost socks go when they disappear from my dryer.
Mar '11
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
I don't believe it. This is another plea for funding.
Most man-made space junk is near the earth. And so, over time, it drops out of orbit and burns up on the way in. And the natural space debris has always been in orbit, of course.
If we want to consider this a problem, the solution is easy: pay private companies on confirmed "kills" using whatever technology suits them (using a ground-based laser looks easiest). But NASA is busy trying to justify its existence, not fix problems, so don't expect any sense.
Mar '11
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
Of course, if it is a real problem, then *insurers* of satelites will pay private companies to zap the debris. After all, it pays them to do so. But NASA? Fuggedaboudit
Mar '11
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
Sounds like an opportunity for a company to build a robot that will literally go from junk to junk, giving it a gentle shove into the atmosphere where it can burn up.
Jul '10
Re: Space Junk: The Final Frontier
I imagine floating around up there catalogs, coupon books, credit card applications....