The Forecast on Space Junk
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.
According to NASA, more than 500,000 pieces of debris, or “space junk,” are tracked as they orbit the Earth- just hundreds of miles above us. Space junk-which is also known by the names space and orbital debris, are made up of a mixture of natural (meteorites) and man-made materials that no longer serves a further purpose or function.
So what are some examples of Space Junk? Inventory includes everything from old satellites, shards of space craft and shrapnel, and floating reminders of failed missions. Even tiny specks of paint from shuttles or bolts and screws are magnified in power when travelling amongst the various debris in this orbit around Earth. Other obscure objects include unused launch vehicle stages, an astronaut’s wrench, and lens covers (ESA, 2013).
These miscellaneous pieces, ranging from the size of a marble to a softball, travel at speeds up to 17,500 mph. The rising population of space debris increases the foreseen danger to all space vehicles, but especially to the International Space Station, space shuttles and other spacecraft with humans aboard (NASA, 2012).
Believe it or not, the real problem is not the fact that there are millions of pieces of debr...
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...official policy of the U.S. has been to minimize the creation of new orbital debris. The most recent National Space Policy in 2010 “addresses the importance of preserving the space environment, including orbital debris mitigation. NASA and the Department of Defense are also directed to pursue research and development of technologies and techniques to mitigate and remove on-orbit debris, reduce hazards, and increase the understanding of the current and future debris environment” (ESA, 2013). Further efforts have been made through NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) located in the U.S., to keep tabs on any piece of debris that classifies as the size of a softball or larger. In closing, there are steps and precautions that can be made when approaching the subject of Space Junk, and like Kessler, all can share in the reassurance that time will heal itself.
When we made it to space there was space junk and there was lots of it. It is everywhere and we couldn’t see anything because our windows were covered with junk. So we had to go outside with our space suits to get rid of the junk. It took a long time but we managed. After that, there was more space junk and it got in our engines. Our engine is full of it and then the main engine failed so we only had the jet engine and the backup engine.
The Space Race is remarkably similar to that of the arms race because of the parallel between the creation of the atomic bomb and the goal of reaching the moon. The United States’ bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki effectively established its place as the technologically superior nation; however, major milestones in space achieved early by the Soviets damaged America’s reputation. In 1957, Soviet scientists shocked the world by successfully launching the Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, beyond the Kármán Line (the boundary of space). This amazing breakthrough “rattled American self-confidence. It cast doubts on America’s vaunted scientific superiority and raised some sobering military questions.” This blow to national pride along with the fear that the Soviets could potentially launch ICBMs from space led to “Rocket fever”. The sudden wave of nationalism and the desire to build a space program worthier to that of the Soviet Union led to the...
INTRODUCTION Attention-getter: “Space travel benefits us here on Earth. And we ain’t stopped yet. There’s more exploration to come.” (Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek) Credibility: Throughout our childhood as we study space, solar systems, planets we all come to a point of having the dream of exploring the space or learn more about it in the future.
"Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort." Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
Once NASA was given the right to start constructing The Hubble Space Telescope, or paraphrased as the HST, it cost $1.5 billion dollars to construct. The length of this massive piece of technology is 43.5ft long( 13.2m). The HST has a diameter of 14ft(4.2m) that allows it to store its hard drives, processors and other fragile technical organs inside the telescope. With its metal base, solar panels, mirrors and etc. protecting the telescopes fragile insides from floating space debris, the HST weighs in at 24,500 pounds, 11,110Kg(“The Telescope”).
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific trash vortex, is a collection of litter which has ended up in oceans, seas and other large bodies of water. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch spans from the West Coast of America to Japan. These areas are linked together by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone; this convergence zone acts as a highway for litter to move from one patch to another. It has also been theorised that the ocean floor beneath the Great pacific garbage patch is also littered with a lot of rubbish on its own. This is a valid theory because it has been proven by Oceanographers and Ecologists that 70% of marine debris actually sinks down to the ocean floor. Although the scientists have researched this garbage vortex, they did not find it. However, when the founder of this garbage vortex, Charles Moore, was boat racing, he found this garbage vortex while he was travelling from Hawaii to California. He and his crew members noticed that their ship was surrounded by millions of
Space is also governed by rules and laws much like we do on land and sea. “Treaty on Principles Governming the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,” or commonly referred to as the Outer Space Treaty was signed in 1966 by many nations, including the Unites States, and is the basis for most international space laws and policies. Some key points to take away from this treaty in relation to the space weapons debate are the following: “(1) outer space is open to all nations to explore and use; (2) nations cannot own any portion of outer space; (3) outer space will be used for peaceful purposes; (4) nations cannot place, put in orbit, or station any weapons of mass destruction in any form in outer space.” (UNOOSA) These principles and laws are also mostly reflected in our nation’s space policy, and our national security space strategy.
Pete, an astronaut on the shuttle Atlantis, is speaking via satellite radio to NASA’s executive director, Dan Truman. Pete is completing maintenance on a satellite when it is struck by several small meteorites. Atlantis, Pete, and the Satellite are all destroyed by the meteorites. As Truman gives
Comets and asteroids. They are some of the first celestial bodies that humans observed and truly thought about. From ancient cultures interpreting these near-Earth objects as signs of disaster, to 18th century Europeans studying their paths, to even the extinction of the dinosaurs, comets and asteroids have always been prevalent in the majority of Earth’s history. These objects have intrigued the human race for generations, and continue to do so today. These similar subjects of fascination have many unique and interesting characteristics and a rich history with Earth.
NOAA Marine Debris Program. “De-mystifying the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch.’” Marine Debris. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2010.
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.
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.
----------. Space 2000: Meeting the Challenge of a New Era. New York: Plenum Press, 1987.
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).
We have benefitted our world by using satellite technology to preform tasks and provide a range of innovated services. The main applications of satellites are in the fields of communication, Earth Remote Sensing, weather, and scientific research. In some ways the use of satellites has made our world smaller. Satellites make it possible to establish a connection between two people that are on opposite ends of the globe via a telephone call or the use of the internet. Each of these satellites have many parts, but two parts are common to all satellites are called the payload and the bus. These groups of devices make the satellite capable of accomplishing their tasks.