Space debris is the collection of useless objects in orbit around Earth. It includes all from erosion, spent rocket stages, old satellites, collisions, and fragments from disintegration. A large number of technical studies are currently developing concepts of active removal of space debris to protect space assets from on orbit collision. Since orbits overlap with new spacecraft therefore debris may collide with operational spacecraft.
Space debris is important and a global cooperation is needed to develop appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the potential impact of space debris on future space missions. It is important to have a safe scientific and technical basis for future action on the complex attributes of space debris and focus on understanding aspects of research related to space debris, including:
Debris measurement techniques
Mathematical modelling of the debris environment
Characterizing the space debris environment
Measures to mitigate the risks of space debris, including spacecraft design and measures to protect against space debris.
A certain amount of research on space debris had already been carry out in some countries, which had allowed for a better understanding of the sources of debris, the areas in near-Earth orbit that were reaching high levels of space debris density, the effects and probabilities of collisions and the necessity to reduce the creation of space debris.
Space debris are all manmade objects, including their parts and fragments, whether their owners can be recognized or not, in Earth orbit or re-entering the dense layers of the atmosphere that is worthless with no reasonable bated breath of their being able to assume or resume their proposed functions or any other functio...
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...itigation measures introduce some cost burden to missions, it would be beneficial that similar mitigation measures are considered for all missions globally. Many organizations involved in space operations have become aware of the potential threats of space debris, and some of those organizations have initiated efforts to mitigate debris generation and to share the results of those efforts with the international community.
Thousands of small sized pieces of space waste i.e. Screw, glove, and piece of an antenna broken off from an old satellite orbit Earth. Such debris is harmful for satellites. The cleanspace project anticipates using laser technology to do a proper clean up. Orbit prediction results on the effect of the velocity change due to Laser Debris Removal engagement is performed for standard debris objects and different combinations of LDR characteristics.
There is an ongoing debate on the issue of weaponizing space in order to protect our national space assets and achieve national strategic objectives. This is an issue because of the increase of more space faring nations trying to exploit the benefits of space and other nations also trying to develop capabilities to disrupt other from using it. This background paper will outline the current international laws and policies, our national policies in regard to space, current issues that catalyzed this debate, the benefits and disadvantage of weaponizing space.
The first implication that this policy has had on space warfare is transparency. Transparency, in the context of space policy, means being open about the activities any nation operating in space takes. It is difficult to use transparency as a means to prevent the weaponization of space because some of the biggest powers that have access to space are the least transparent. For example, North Korea is one of th...
These are the reasons why I believe there should be more investment in space research and technology. It would be a time consuming and financially draining quest, but the pay off in new technology, applications, resources, and expansion opportunities make it a goal to strive for. As our rate of consumption of Earth’s natural resources continues to increase, it is imperative that we invest in the research of outer space as a possible solution to sustaining the human race.
A successful space program is needed in America, and here’s why: we are losing our grip on the title of the world superpower and a new age of economics and politics is coming faster than we are prepared for. To be prepared for this new age we need the funds, which can be found in our space. The most deadly of those threats: asteroids. Don Yeoman, an employee at the Jet Propulsion Lab, a NASA facility, tracks over 600,000 asteroids every day.
"Space Debris and Human Spacecraft." NASA. NASA, 27 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .
In order to avoid being hit by space debris, scientists developed the collision avoidance technique. They are also looking for ways to remove the debris from Earth's orbit. Most importantly, tracking these objects is key to solving all the problems. The amount of space junk accumulates daily due to the high volume of junk-to-junk collisions.
To analyze the number of satellites sent into the space by humans, let’s consider figure – 1. Figure – 1 shows the numbers of satellites sent every year from 1957 to 2014. In Figure – 1, LEO represents Lower Earth Orbit, MEO represents Medium Earth Orbit, GEO represents Geostationary Orbit and there are other space satellites indicated by the orange color3. According to the graph, it can be stated that most of the satellites were sent in the lower orbit of the earth. Starting from year 1957 to 2014, there were 7417 satellites that were sent in space2. From 1965 to 1978, the number of satellites sent in outer space was fairly constant2. In this time period, the maximum number of satellites sent is 177 in the year 1978, and minimum number is 138 in the year 19742. The maximum number of satellites 230 was sent in the year 1984 and this is the highest number of spacecraft sent in the space till now2. During 1979 to 1985, the spacecraft number increased rapidly2. However, from 1986 till 1996, the nu...
When considering this topic, one might ask themselves why explore space? We explore space to compare other planets with the earth and to study the sun, to explore the universe while finding if intelligent life exists, for satellites to improve communications, weather forecasting, navigation, resource monitoring, and “to create a focal point for a new intellectual renaissance” (Ruzic).
As such, this essay will argue that space exploration is a necessity of our kind and that NASA should be progressively more financed. To begin with, space research has helped bring several developments to modern science, affecting the quality of our everyday lives. With issues like climate change, and population overgrowth, our species faces the risks of major extinction (4). Climate change has been a man-made problem in recent years that threatens our planet. It will take huge mitigations from current and future societies to even come close to reversing climate change.
Space is unimaginably vast, and the problems keeping humans from mastering the exploration of and colonization of space is equally daunting. Impressive advances have been made within the past century, and dedicated efforts to make equally impressive strides in the next hundred years are in place. Space research will not yield resutls overnight, but the information obtained along the way will have a positive impact throughout the scientific community and the world's population in turn. With a goal of extraplanetary habitation, humans can prepare protective measures for neutralizing danger and managing resources underwater, in space, and on land, domestic and alien. The scientific and cultural unity required to reach this goal has the potential to propel mankind as a species and farther through the stars than ever imagined.
By the third millennium, mankind is actively studying and exploring space. The number of space flights is increasing and they are constantly running into a number of problems. One of these is a question of the increasing contamination of space with objects from our explorations. These objects are better known as space debris or simply said – space junk. Space debris is man-made objects in Earth’s orbit or objects that reenter the atmosphere, including parts that have finished their active existence and are no longer useful.
United Nations. "Speakers Warn Against Potential Outer Space Arms Race, as Fourth Committee Continue Debate." UNIS. United Nations Information Service, 2007. Web. .
It is a wonder to marvel about how much debris man has created over the span of approximately 50 years. Sadly, this is nothing new on our planet. However, little is known, or at least in regards to public awareness, about the celestial landfill that man has created since the early days of the Space Race involving the Russian launching of Sputnik. Ever since then, the repercussions of the US versus Russia mechanized frenzy have snowballed into an estimated 6,600 satellites being launched, in addition to 1,000 that are still active now.
Space exploration can lead to the possibility to find useful resources throughout the galaxy for human gain. Many severe problems on earth could be solved through space exploration such as world hunger, overpopulation, and dwindling fuel sources. Things such as fuel could be harvested from planets for power generation and propulsion technology, and land to cultivate for growing food, as well as land for building living areas for the growing population. These potential resources...
Some may think exploring outer space is simply a human’s curiosity. This is true but on the contrary, people explore to learn about things they may have never known and touch on the essence of the creation of the universe. Another reason for exploring this uncharted area is the technological advancements people have made and immense amount of innovation they have achieved in this field (Wood). Lastly, scientists study the other planets just in case one day humans need to relocate after overwhelming damage has been done to Earth. Suffice to say, it is a vital part of today’s day and age to research outer space (Rothery).