Tag: deorbiting
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Earthquake Sensors Now Track Space Junk as It Re-enters Earth
Introduction: A New Role for Earthquake Sensors Earthquake monitoring networks aren’t just for quakes. In a surprising development, researchers are leveraging the world’s dense web of seismometers to track space junk as it crashes back to Earth. As thousands of tons of orbital debris circle our planet, a growing concern is where these fragments land…
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Space Debris: 1.1 Million Pieces in Orbit Raising Risks
What the numbers mean Earth’s orbital environment is now crowded with debris from decades of spaceflight. Recent assessments estimate more than 1.1 million pieces larger than 1 centimeter are currently circling the planet, traveling at velocities up to about 18,000 miles per hour. Each fragment, from defunct satellites to spent rocket stages, can threaten operational…
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Golden Satellite Insulation Sparks Talk on Orbital Crowding and Debris
Orbital Crowding: A Growing Challenge Planet Earth’s orbital environment is becoming increasingly crowded. Thousands of satellites—ranging from operational communications relays to defunct and decommissioned craft—now circle the planet. Add in pieces of debris from past collisions and discarded rocket stages, and the near-Earth space around us looks more like a busy highway than a silent…
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Why Scientists Are Worried About Dead Satellites Becoming Space Junk
What is space debris and how do dead satellites become junk? Space debris refers to any human-made object in orbit that no longer serves a purpose. Dead satellites, spent upper stages, and spent rocket bodies can become debris if they are not properly managed at the end of a mission. Even when satellites are designed…
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A Bi-Directional Plasma Thruster for Safe Deorbiting of Space Junk
Understanding Kessler Syndrome and Its Challenges As the problem of space debris escalates, the Kessler Syndrome presents a significant threat to satellites, spacecraft, and future space missions. The phenomenon occurs when the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions between objects create even more debris, leading to a cascading…