Tag: Space Junk
-
Space Health Score: Earth’s Orbit Faces a Growing Junk Crisis
What the Space Health Score Means The latest space health score paints a stark picture: Earth’s orbit is increasingly crowded with debris, jeopardizing the reliable operation of satellites, astronauts, and future missions. The space health score isn’t a single number you’d tally on a scale, but a composite indicator that tracks the density of orbital…
-
The Space Junk Crisis: Why Orbital Debris Is The Next Big Threat To Our Future
Introduction: A crowded orbit and rising stakes Space has long symbolized ambition, innovation, and exploration. But as humanity’s footprint around Earth expands, so does a hidden threat: orbital debris. Thousands of defunct satellites, spent stages, and shattered fragments—collectively dubbed “cosmic junk”—now zigzag through the near-Earth environment at stunning speeds. The consequences aren’t just theoretical: each…
-
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…
-
Why Dead Satellites Are a Growing Space Junk Threat
Why scientists are worried about dead satellites becoming space junk The sighting of an unusual sky event over Calgary has brought public attention to a problem that scientists have been tracking for years: dead satellites and other discarded pieces of hardware piling up in Earth’s orbit. As more launches occur and older equipment remains active…
-
Why Scientists Are Worried About Dead Satellites Turning Into Space Junk
Overview: A growing hazard from old satellites An unusual visual spectacle over Calgary recently captured headlines and highlighted a broader concern: dead satellites turning into space junk. The debris problem has moved from a theoretical worry to a practical challenge that could affect communications, weather forecasting, and even human spaceflight. As more objects populate orbit,…
-
A Bi-Directional Plasma Thruster Could Deorbit Space Junk Safely
The Growing Threat of Space Junk Space junk, or orbital debris, has become a significant concern for satellites, space missions, and the future of space exploration. The phenomenon known as Kessler Syndrome describes a scenario where the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) is so high that collisions between debris and operational satellites…
-
Bi-Directional Plasma Thruster: A Solution to Space Junk
Understanding the Space Junk Problem As humanity’s presence in space grows, so does the issue of space debris, particularly in low Earth orbit (LEO). This increasing congestion poses a significant risk to satellites, space stations, and even crewed missions. Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the density of objects in LEO is so high that collisions…