Litter is not only getting worse on earth. The scrap also collects in orbit. This could one day make it look like Saturn.
Utah – The earth has a garbage problem. However, this problem does not only exist on the continents and oceans, but also in space around them. The so-called space junk or space debris is increasing in quantity and poses a challenge for scientists.
NASA reports that the sensors of the global space surveillance network have detected more than 27,000 pieces of space junk. But these are only the parts that are large enough to be recorded at all. Much more debris is smaller, but no less dangerous for robotic missions or manned spaceflight. Both junk and spaceships move in orbit at extremely high speeds, so a collision can lead to great difficulties.
Rings around earth: space debris is an increasing problem
The amount of space junk will continue to grow over the next few years as the commercial space industry evolves. The American space company SpaceX * alone sent 900 satellites into space this year. Amazon * is also planning to move more than 3000 satellite constellations into low earth orbit as part of its “Kuiper” project in order to offer “reliable and affordable broadband services,” as the company explains in a press release.
A University of Utah scientist now believes that all of the space junk in orbit will one day take the form of rings that orbit the earth, giving it a Saturn-like appearance. Jake Abbott, professor of mechanical engineering and robotics, told the American daily Salt Lake Tribune : “The earth is well on the way to getting its own rings. They will only consist of scrap. “
Space junk: Trash can be cleared of Earth orbit
So how do you get all of this junk out of orbit? Abbott and his team have found a way to do this. With the help of magnets, controlled force and electricity, the rapidly rotating debris should be slowed down so that it can finally be collected. “We basically created the world’s first tractor beam,” explains Abbott. “It is now just a matter of technique to build it and start it.”
The Japanese company Astroscale also hopes to be able to free the earth in its orbit one day of space debris. The company has started building a prototype spaceship to test technologies to remove the garbage. (ij) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
