Space junk: a conceptual artwork representing defunct satellites, failed missions, and shrapnel orbiting Earth.
“A tipping point” for collisions has been reached with the amount of debris orbiting the Earth, which would in turn generate more of the debris that threatens astronauts and satellites, according to a U.S. study released on Thursday.
Continue reading… “Space junk at a ‘tipping point’: study”
Space junk is a growing problem — 200,000 pieces and counting — and as the amount of earth’s orbital debris increases, so does the chance some satellite will be involved in a cosmic collision. As this would cause much gnashing of teeth and woe for the affected terrestrial parties, some researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center have pitched the idea of removing said junk with a laser — once again proving that everything’s better with lasers…
Continue reading… “In Lasers We Trust: NASA Researches 5kW Galactic Trash Disposal System”
Space junk
There is so much junk whizzing around Earth that any collision in space could now cause a knock-on effect that would destroy vital satellites, according to a Pentagon report.
Continue reading… “A Chain Reaction of Space Junk Could Destroy Communications on Earth”
Astronauts on board of the International Space Station have been called into action to dodge yet another piece of space junk.
Continue reading… “Space Shuttle Discovery Pushes Space Station Out Of Path Of Space Debris”
is quite crowded with satellites and … space junk!
Between the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 and 1 January 2008, approximately 4600 launches have placed some 6000 satellites into orbit; about 400 are now traveling beyond Earth on interplanetary trajectories, but of the remaining 5600 only about 800 satellites are operational – roughly 45 percent of these are both in LEO and GEO. Space debris comprise the ever-increasing amount of inactive space hardware in orbit around the Earth as well as fragments of spacecraft that have broken up, exploded or otherwise become abandoned. About 50 percent of all trackable objects are due to in-orbit explosion events (about 200) or collision events (less than 10).
Continue reading… “Space Junk Litter Earth’s Orbit”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
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