Minimizing future space debris is of significant importance because there are no proven, cost-effective methods to reduce existing debris. The ideas that appear to have the most merit, like GOLD, have narrow solution-sets, like being constrained to low earth orbit or mitigating future debris. I hate to be a defeatist, but pending a breakthrough in [...]
Archive for the ‘Space Junk’ Category
Space Debris: Few Solutions or No Solutions?
Posted: August 5, 2010 in Space Debris, Space JunkTags: Space Junk
0
GOLD Solves Space Debris?
Posted: August 3, 2010 in GAC, Global Aerospace Corporation, GOLD, Gossamer Orbit Lowering Device, Kristin L. Gates, LEO, Low Earth Orbit, Space Balloon, Space Debris, Space JunkTags: Space Junk
Will GOLD, the Gossamer Orbit Lowering Device, provide a cheap, fast, and good-enough solution to the problem of space debris in low earth orbit? GOLD is a very large and very thin balloon–up to 100 meter diameter–which when inflated, increases aerodynamic drag on space debris at low earth orbit by a factor of up to [...]
The 17000 Pound Piece of Space Debris
Posted: July 26, 2010 in Envisat, ESA, European Space Agency, Polar Orbit, Space Debris, Space JunkTags: Space Junk
Envisat, the European Space Agency’s $3 billion, 17000-plus pound earth observation satellite will be the biggest–physically at least–risk to satellites operating in polar orbits for the next 150 years. What happens in 150 years to change things? It burns in. You would think the ESA has considered using whatever maneuver fuel is available to try [...]
Who Writes This Stuff?
Posted: July 22, 2010 in Crappy Writing, Debris Mitigation, Lasers, Space Debris, Space Junk, UncategorizedTags: Space Junk
Do you ever wonder if (in Dr. Strangelove’s voice) “Computers are writing internet articles”? I do, especially when I read We’re pigs in space, but Aussie technology set to clean up orbiting mess. Example 1: “The EOS system involves special cameras peering into the night sky to locate the debris.” Special cameras, eh? Example 2: [...]
Pentagon Warns That Space Junk Poses Threat
Posted: May 27, 2010 in Space Debris, Space Junk, Space Posture ReviewTags: Space Junk
The subtext in the original Washington Post article (registration required) says “Report urges steps to prevent collisions with satellites.” The ‘report’ being referenced is the not-for-public-release (and interim) Space Posture Review. However the article, which is the Post’s variation of this Bloomberg article. never really says what steps are required other than “polices and laws [...]
Space Station Threatened by Chunk of Space Junk
Posted: November 6, 2009 in ISS, Space Debris, Space Junk, Space StationTags: Space Junk
Either within five clicks or a half-click depending on which official is talking.
Just a thought from a long ago missile accident involving a Titan II ICBM near Damascus, Arkansas: has it occurred to anyone to tether their tools while on a space walk?
