Waste in Space: Where do they "eventually" go?

As we continue to push the boundaries of technological innovation, we are also creating an unexpected and growing problem: space junk. This term refers to the accumulation of defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other fragments that clutter the orbits around Earth, posing a significant threat to both manned and unmanned space missions.

"Marine debris and space debris are both an anthropogenic detriment that is avoidable." - Moriba Jah, coauthor and associate professor of aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Time

According to the Natural History Museum, there are about 2,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, along with 3,000 dead ones. Additionally, there are around 34,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters, and millions of smaller pieces that could nonetheless prove disastrous if they collide with other objects. Even tiny fragments, such as paint flecks, can cause significant damage when traveling at high velocities.

The problem of space debris has been escalating since the dawn of the space age in the 1950s. As we continue to launch rockets and satellites, the risk of collision increases. The International Space Station (ISS), for instance, has to perform hundreds of collision avoidance maneuvers every year to dodge incoming space junk.

The situation is so severe that an international team of researchers recently called for a global treaty to curb the amount of satellites and rubbish in Earth's orbit. In an open letter published in Science, they cited a staggering figure of 100 trillion objects currently circling the planet, a number expected to grow exponentially with the planned launch of new satellite constellations (Time).

The United Nations has asked companies to remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years after the end of their mission. However, this is challenging to enforce, especially when satellites fail. To tackle this problem, several companies have proposed innovative solutions, such as using harpoons, nets, magnets, or lasers to remove defunct satellites from orbit and drag them back into the atmosphere, where they will burn up.

However, these methods are only useful for large satellites. For smaller pieces of debris, we have to wait for them to naturally re-enter Earth's atmosphere. This has led to concerns about the Kessler syndrome, a scenario proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978. He suggested that if there was too much space junk in orbit, it could result in a chain reaction where more and more objects collide and create new space junk, to the point where Earth's orbit becomes unusable.

To avoid this catastrophic scenario, it's crucial that we take steps now to manage and mitigate the problem of space junk. This includes implementing treaties that hold both government and commercial space launch services accountable for minimizing the amount of debris their launches create, deorbiting satellites after they've reached the end of their functional life, and developing technologies to clean up the existing space debris.

As we continue to explore and innovate in space, we must also remember our responsibility to maintain and protect this frontier for future generations. The problem of space junk serves as a stark reminder that even as we reach for the stars, we must keep our feet grounded in the principles of sustainability and responsible stewardship.

Stay ahead in the world of waste management. Don't miss out on the latest trends, insights, and innovations. Subscribe to TrashTech Trends today and be part of the digital revolution in waste management??

References:

Natural History Museum. (n.d.). What is space junk and why is it a problem? Retrieved from https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-space-junk-and-why-is-it-a-problem.html

Kluger, J. (2023, March 31). Scientists Sound the Alarm Over a Growing Trash Problem in Space. Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/6262389/space-junk-increasing-problem/

NASA. (n.d.). Space Debris and Human Spacecraft. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html