Satellites companies may be starting to take the fight against space junk seriously

Image courtesy google

Satellite companies are taking the fight against space junk seriously in several ways, including: 

  • Tracking satellites and debris LeoLabs and others are tracking satellites and debris to alert government and commercial actors to close calls. 
  • Finding new ways to track junk Privateer is working on finding new and better ways to track how junk moves in space. 
  • Developing a space claw The ESA developed the “space claw,” known as ClearSpace-1, which will launch in 2025 and is designed to capture and dispose of space junk. 
  • Offering a satellite removal service Astroscale, a Japanese tech firm with a facility in Oxfordshire, hopes to offer a satellite removal service in the next few years. 
  • Increasing satellite maneuverability French startup ThrustMe has announced a jump in orders for its innovative iodine-based propulsion systems for small satellites. 

Space junk doesn’t pose a huge risk to exploration efforts, but it does pose a danger to other satellites in orbit. These satellites have to move out of the way of incoming space junk to make sure they don’t get hit and potentially damaged or destroyed.

Satellite companies are taking the fight against space junk seriously in a number of ways: 

  • Tracking satellites and debris LeoLabs and others are tracking satellites and debris, helping alert government and commercial actors to close calls. 
  • Finding new ways to track junk Privateer is working on finding new and better ways to track how junk moves in space. 
  • Removing space junk Astroscale, a Japanese tech firm, hopes to offer a satellite removal service in the next few years. Esa’s ClearSpace-1 mission aims to become the first to remove an item of space debris from orbit in 2025. 
  • Increasing satellite maneuverability French startup ThrustMe has announced a jump in orders for its innovative iodine-based propulsion systems for small satellites. 

Other ways to remove inactive satellites from orbit include: 

  • Pulling them down into the Earth’s atmosphere, where they will burn up 
  • Using a “space claw,” such as ClearSpace-1, which is designed to capture and dispose of space junk 

There are nearly 3,000 defunct spacecraft zooming around Earth at tremendous speeds, along with other big, dangerous pieces of debris like upper-stage rocket bodies.

Here are some companies that are removing space junk: 

  • Astroscale A Japanese startup that removes orbital debris through End of Life (EOL) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) services. Astroscale aims to capture old space junk with a robotic arm in 2026. 
  • ELSA-d A two-satellite mission developed by Astroscale that consists of a “servicer” satellite designed to safely remove debris from orbit. 
  • RemoveDEBRIS A mission that aims to be the first in the world to capture and “de-orbit” space junk using tools such as a net, harpoon, or robotic arm. Other members of the collaboration include the University of Surrey’s Space Centre in the UK, Inria, Innovative Solutions in Space, and CSEM. 

Other companies that are removing space junk include: ESA, Airbus, NASA.

Space junk, also known as space debris, is any human-made object in space that no longer serves a useful function. It can be as large as a discarded rocket stage or as small as a microscopic chip of paint. 

Space junk can include: 

  • Bits and pieces of inactive satellites 
  • The rockets that carry them into space 
  • Debris from missiles 
  • Detritus left behind by astronauts 

Humans have put tens of thousands of objects in Earth’s orbit since the Soviets launched the first satellite in 1957. As of May 2022, there are over five thousand satellites orbiting Earth. 

Space junk can be a problem for both outer space and the planet. Only one human in history has been hit by orbital debris falling on Earth.

https://c60a9ccid6t0ct98uj-js03r3u.hop.clickbank.net

Top travel items on heavy discount on Amazon

Top travel items on heavy discount on Amazon

3 thoughts on “Satellites companies may be starting to take the fight against space junk seriously

Leave a Reply