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Space debris case study
History of communications satellites
Space debris case study
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Since the historical launch of the first successful artificial satellite Sputnik on October 4th 1957 humanity has launched thousands of satellites into orbit above Earth. The prodigious use of Earth’s orbit has resulted in an important consequence, space debris. While currently most space debris does not pose a serious threat to Earth or operating space technology the planned increase of satellite launches as well as the continued accumulation of debris from current satellites will necessitate drastic action in order to ensure that Earth orbit technology remains viable. The ability of space debris to hinder further space exploration and travel is also a necessary obstacle to overcome in order for future investment in space technologies by global governments and private industries. Finally the valuable nature of components used in satellites, chiefly gold but also including other metals creates an important economic incentive for the reclamation and recycling of components found within the atmosphere. These factors lead to the logical conclusion that by the year 2025 a space debris reclamation project must begin in order to ensure the continuing advancement of current communication, navigation, defense, and scientific technologies.
Currently there are more than 21,000 objects larger than 10 cm orbiting the Earth, only a small fraction of which are operational satellites and approximately 500,000 objects between 1 cm and 10 cm in size orbit Earth. (2) While these objects may seem small it is important to remember that they travel at speeds up to 17,500 mph, fast enough for a relatively small piece of orbital debris to damage a satellite or a spacecraft.(12). While modern satellites and space stations are equipped with durable sh...
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...http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/library/IAR_95_Document.pdf>.
11. United State of America. NASA. Orbital Debris Program Office. NASA Orbital Debris FAQs. NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, Mar. 2012. Web. 31 May 2014.
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12. United State of America. NASA. Orbital Debris. NASA News, 27 Sept. 2013. Web. 31 May 2014.
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13. Weeden, Brian. "Billiards in Space." Review. Space Review 23 Feb. 2009:
n.pag.Http://web.archive.org/. Web. 31 May 2014. .
14. "World Bank Commodity Forecast Price Data, April 2014 - Knoema.com."Knoema. World Bank,
Apr. 2014. Web. 01 June 2014..
Although many people could say that it would just be a waste of time because of the other military development failures, the national budget is shrinking. In the late 1990s, the U.S. government started work on a new type of spy satellite. The project cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars, but none of the satellites were built. The reason for t...
Lowther, Adam and Casey Lucius. "Identifying America's Vital Interests." Space and Defense 7, no. 1 (Winter, 2014): 39-52.
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.”
United States. Centeral Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
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.
" As stated by the AIAA, the space debris issue should be faced by all space users, and coordinated action should be taken immediately if the future use of space is not to be seriously restricted.... ... middle of paper ... ...4] "Resources Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies," [Online Document], 1999 March 18, [cited 2000 November 17], Available http://www.aero.org/cords/. Rossi, A., "Long Term Evolution of Earth Orbiting Objects," [Online Document], 1996 Mar 12, [cited 2000 November 17], Available at: http://apollo.cnuce.cnr.it/rossi/publications/oslo/oslo.html.
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.
Launius, Roger D. "Sputnik and the Origins of the Space Age." 1997. NASA. Accessed 2 Apr. 2003. < a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/sputnik/sputorig.html>
"Space Debris and Human Spacecraft." NASA. NASA, 27 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .
William, Armstrong. “Colliding Bodies.” The Washington Times Aug. 11, 2001. Academic Universe. Lexis Nexis. EBSCO Publishing. Colorado State University Lib. Mar. 2003 http://lib.colostate.edu/databases/>
----------. Space 2000: Meeting the Challenge of a New Era. New York: Plenum Press, 1987.
Since we first sent rockets into Earths orbit, we have been pushing the technological boundaries in order to reach new heights. Space exploration has caused advances in almost every field imaginable. We have seen new technology in the fields of telecommunications, innovative new light-weight materials, rockets and aircraft material. Space exploration by nature causes innovation because the need for “increased performance in space… usually means getting more out of less” (Crusan & Neumann, 2011). These size and weight constraints on materials and equipment have lead to the creation of devices that we use everyday like water filters, scratch resistant lenses, and memory foam. The newest advancement in NASA’s long list of innovations is the International Space station (ISS). The ISS a long-term micro-gravity research station that helps us get closer to eventually making a journey to other planets. NASA has been doing the impossible for 55 years and is now in the process of handing over the reigns to the private sector. Companies like Virgin Galactic and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) have taken over wh...
Of all these spacecraft only about 900 are operational and all of the rest are space debris. This population of satellites and rocket bodies’ account for about 99% of the debris orbiting the Earth are estimated to be around 5000 metric tons. There are more than 20,000 pieces of debris larger than a softball orbiting the Earth. This debris can travel at speeds up to 17,500 mph. Even a relatively small piece of space debris can damage a satellite or a spacecraft at these speeds.
Most people think that the costly downside to funding space exploration is a reason to avoid spending money on sciences and instead spend it on problems here on earth, but such funding for space exploration actually promotes economical as well as scientific benefits. Space exploration is an important expenditure for the high cost because of the potential for numerous benefits such as the possibility to find useful resources to cultivate, space exploration and satellites produce many thousands of jobs in our economy, and it creates and discovers newer and better technologies through research and development.
Introduction I. Attention Getter: The International Space Station is the most complex machine ever built by man. Comprising over 1 billion parts, this modern marvel orbits Mother Earth at a speed of over 4 miles every second. II. Relating to the Audience: I believe that the Space Shuttle program has fascinated most, if not all, of you at some point of time, so much so that it has driven some of us to pursue Aerospace Engineering.