Climate Change And Space Debris: What You Need To Know
Humans are damaging our planet and the atmosphere by polluting with toxic materials. These substances enter the atmosphere, strip it of its protective ozone layer, and cause global warming. Global warming also has an effect on space debris because it causes the atmosphere to expand, causing more collisions between satellites and space debris.
Why Space Debris Matters
As our reliance on technology increases, so too does the risk of damaging space debris. This is particularly concerning given the significant and ongoing problem of climate change.
The impact of space debris can be both direct and indirect. Direct impacts include collisions with satellites or other objects in space, which can damage or destroy them. Indirect impacts are caused by the build-up of debris in orbit, which can create a ‘debris field’ that makes it difficult or impossible for spacecraft to operate safely.
The problem of space debris is compounded by the fact that once an object is in orbit, it can remain there for many years — even centuries — before eventually re-entering the atmosphere and burning up. This means that the risk posed by space debris will continue to increase unless we take active steps to mitigate it.
