The growing issue of Space debris
Space junk is a growing problem. Debris from numerous defunct satellites, metal parts, and specks of paint, has accumulated in the Earth’s orbit. While most space debris particles maybe small in size, they orbit around the earth at very high speeds — in the lower earth orbit, the speed can be as high as 27,000 kmph. At such high speeds, any collision with even the smallest debris particle can cause major damage to any active space mission or satellite. In 2007, it was estimated that the likelihood that a piece of debris larger than 1cm would collide with an active satellite in LEO was ~17% each year. By 2013, the Russian Federal space agency head said this probability had increased to 50%-60%.
As we look to make space more accessible and increase missions to space, the growing problem of space debris poses a serious problem to safety of these missions which will be critical in making space commercially viable. Various space agencies and start-ups are working towards addressing this problem of growing space debris. As we look to deal with space debris, it is critical to ensure that we set space standards and rules that minimise the further generation of space debris. The European Space Agency has been working towards defining such standards which include mandatory inclusion of deorbiting protocols and capabilities in satellite missions which will ensure that post life, the satellites are disposed efficiently rather than remaining in orbit & increasing space debris.
The other aspect is to look at ways to clean current space debris levels and provide ways to minimise the risk of collision. The first step towards this is to effectively be able to track and monitor space debris particles. Currently, most agencies use ground based radar systems which cannot capture small particles that are moving at very high speeds. In fact, NASA estimated that while 27,000 pieces of space debris were being tacked actively, there are over 128 million pieces of debris around the Earth. Thus there is a need for an effective method for tracking these debris particles which will be the critical first step towards then developing and deploying methods to capture and clear these debris particles.
As we move ahead, various agencies and start-ups are looking to develop technologies which can track, clean and reduced space debris. This will be critical is creating a safe and accessible ecosystem for space travel and commercialising missions to space.
