Space junk from satellites, rockets and humans is now cluttering Earth’s orbit to such an extent that some fear it could one day lead to a catastrophic collision.
Just last week, crew members on the International Space Station (ISS) were forced to take emergency action after a Russian weapons tests created over 1,500 debris pieces.
But scientists believe they have the answer for how to tackle the problem — and it could even help refuel spacecraft circling hundreds of miles above our heads.
How can space junk be eliminated? Scientists think they know the solution to the issue of space junk in Earth’s orbit. The process would include capturing and melting space junk into rods of metal that could be used to power an ‘inspace electric propulsion system. This is the process.
According to ESA, there are currently approximately 9200 tonnes space debris that is floating above the Earth.
The alarming growth of junk in low orbit space missions is already affecting them. Experts are worried that it will get worse without drastic measures.
One such idea involves an international effort to recycle this dangerous debris into rocket fuel — while still in orbit.
Satellites would capture bits of space junk at speeds up to 17,000 mph before they are stored and cut up with advanced robotics.
One space findry currently in development would melt the material into steel rods that could be used to fuel an ‘inspace electric propulsion system.
The first stage of the vision has already been demonstrated by Japanese start-up Astroscale.
After being launched on March 1, this year, the craft was called ELSA–d and used magnets for space junk collection.
Nanorocks in the US has a separate plan that will then remove any debris still orbiting and prepare it to be recycled.
CisLunar Industries is also part of the partnership.
American firm is developing an a Space foundry uses space to melt junk and make metal rods. These can be used as fuel by a propulsion system which ionizes the metal and generates thrust that propels objects in orbit.
The system was created by Neumann Space in Australia as a means to expand spacecraft missions, move or de orbit satellites.
The firm’s chief executive Herve Astier told the Guardian that when Neumann was approached to be part of a supply chain to melt metal in space, he thought it was a futuristic plan that would not be ‘as easy as it looks’.
Commercial space continues to expand at an alarming rate. Companies are trying to launch new satellite constellations or experimental craft to low-Earth orbit.
He continued, “But they received a grant form Nasa so it was possible to build a prototype. And it works.”
“One can pick up a piece, cut it open, melt it, and that’s all we have.”
Astier claimed it would be “like creating a gasoline station in space”
Firms are trying to launch satellite constellations as well as new craft to low earth orbit, to keep pace with the growing commercial space sector.
Astronomers have been left feeling frustrated and unable to make accurate observations due to ‘blots of the sky’.
The longer term concerns are that this “free for all” approach to space may lead to catastrophic collisions that can cause loss of connectivity or even death on Earth.
Worst-case scenario: A series of collisions between small and larger pieces of space junk, until orbits are unusable. This is known as The Kessler Effect.
Donald Kessler from NASA proposed it in 1978. He believed it would make it impossible to escape the Earth.
Space is littered with millions of bits of space debris, traveling at speeds of hundreds to thousands of miles an hour. Each could cause damage to a satellite or telescope, or even a spacecraft, on the way from the ISS, Mars, or the moon.
The UK Space Agency had previously stated that they hoped to broker international agreements on responsible space behavior, working together with industry to establish licensing and regulation mechanisms to encourage safety in orbit.
There are an estimated 170 million pieces of space junk in orbit alongside some $700 billion (£555bn) of space infrastructure.
These debris could be as large as spent rocket stage or small enough to make paint flakes.
However, only 22,000 of these fragments have been tracked and can travel at speeds exceeding 16,777 mph (277,000 kmh). Even tiny bits could cause serious damage to satellites.
Previous scientists have pointed out two factors that significantly worsened space debris problems.
It happened in February 2009. An Iridium communications satellite collided with a Kosmos-2251 Russian military satellite.
In January 2007, China used an anti-satellite weapon to destroy an older Fengyun weather spacecraft.