The Conservative Cave

Interests => The Science Club => Topic started by: Chris_ on May 28, 2010, 05:04:41 PM

Title: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: Chris_ on May 28, 2010, 05:04:41 PM
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/kayaktn/600px-Debris-LEO1280.jpg)
Quote
According to the DoD's interim Space Posture Review, that could all come crashing down. Literally. Our satellites are sorely outnumbered by space debris, to the tune of 370,000 pieces of junk up there versus 1,100 satellites. That junk ranges from nuts and bolts lost during spacewalks to pieces of older satellites to whole satellites that no longer function, and it's all whipping around the Earth at a rate of about 4.8 miles per second.

The fear is that with so much junk already up there, a collision is numerically probable at some point. Two large pieces of junk colliding could theoretically send thousands more potential satellite killers into orbit, and those could in turn collide with other pieces of junk or with satellites, unleashing another swarm of debris. You get the idea.

To give an idea of how quickly a chain reaction could get out hand consider this: in February of last year a defunct Russian satellite collided with a communications satellite, turning 2 orbiting craft into 1,500 pieces of junk. The Chinese missile test that obliterated a satellite in 2007 spawned 100 times more than that, scattering 150,000 pieces of debris.
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-05/dod-space-junk-tipping-point-collision-could-set-catastrophic-chain-reaction

I haven't heard anything about sending something up there to collect the debris.  The Stardust probe used aerogel to collect comet debris at 13,000 miles an hour... something similar might be used to clean up the junk.
Title: Re: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: The Village Idiot on May 28, 2010, 05:15:11 PM
NASA was working on that, sort of a GLAD bag in space but the project got canceled.
Title: Re: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: thundley4 on May 28, 2010, 05:51:54 PM
Quote from: FGL on May 28, 2010, 05:15:11 PM
NASA was working on that, sort of a GLAD bag in space but the project got canceled.

We no longer need to worry about collisions. Lord Zero is keeping our craft at lower altitudes looking for global warming proof.
Title: Re: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: rich_t on May 28, 2010, 06:40:29 PM
Can we aim some of it at DC?
Title: Re: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on May 29, 2010, 03:28:31 PM
Quote from: rich_t on May 28, 2010, 06:40:29 PM
Can we aim some of it at DC?
You left out Turtle Bay!

 :hammer:
Title: Re: Space Junk Collision Could Set Off Catastrophic Chain Reaction
Post by: cavegal on May 29, 2010, 04:56:45 PM
Quote from: thundley4 on May 28, 2010, 05:51:54 PM
We no longer need to worry about collisions. Lord Zero is keeping our craft at lower altitudes looking for global warming proof.
I also thought Lord Zer0 gave most of NASA to the Muslims? :banghead: :bang