The Problem with Space Debris
What is it, and why is it a big deal?
What is space debris?
Space debris — or "space junk” — are pieces of obsolete technology left by humans in space. This can include large objects like satellites left in orbit (either because they failed or because they were abandoned after their mission) or small objects like pieces that fell off a rocket.
Space debris poses the risk of collision and the creation of smaller fragments, which could then collide with and destroy other satellites, including the ones we rely on everyday such as for Wi-Fi and GPS. These collisions can also impact observation satellites, which collect data we need for weather predictions, climate change, and more.
As the space industry develops, rotating — or "tumbling” — debris is a growing concern. Because collisions create more fragments, space debris is an exponential issue, referred to as the “Kessler Syndrome.” As such, the threat only increases with every satellite launched into orbit.
A human traveling in space — even in a rocket — is equally at risk of these collisions, making space more and more dangerous for astronauts.
How bad is it, really?
NASA put this one best:
“Most ‘space junk’ is moving very fast. It can reach speeds of 4.3 to 5 miles per second. Five miles per second is 18,000 miles per hour. That speed is almost seven times faster than a bullet. And if a spacecraft is moving toward the debris, the total speed at which they collide can be even faster. The average impact speed of a piece of orbital debris running into another object is 22,370 miles per hour. Since it is moving so quickly, a tiny piece of orbital debris can cause a lot of damage. Being hit by a piece of debris smaller than half an inch around - traveling at about six miles per second - would be like being hit by a bowling ball moving at 300 miles per hour.”
— NASAWhy is this urgent?
Problems that are exponential always seem distant — until they’re not…
Here is what the trajectory of space debris accumulation has looked like thus far:
Number of objects > 10 cm in LEO. Credit: NASA ODPO.
And here is the trajectory over the next two centuries if we don’t mitigate the issue now:
LEGEND-simulated historical LEO environment and results from three different future projection scenarios. Each projection curve is the average of 100 MC runs. The effective number is defined as the fractional time, per orbital period, an object spends between 200 km and 2000 km altitudes. Credit: NASA ODPO
To mitigate this problem, at least 5-10 pieces of debris need to be removed each year. That’s where we come in using our Orbit Decaying Electromagnetic Satellite (ODES).
If you believe in the future of space exploration and travel — and in the longevity of modern technology we use daily — then now is the time to invest in a company that will protect modern society by resolving the space debris issue.