Space Debris

NASA Aims to Keep Moon's Skies Junk-Free

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:24:42 -0700

There are well over 100,000 objects in Earth orbit, the vast majority being non-functioning junk in the form of satellites and debris from rocket launches. With no atmospheric barrier to shield the moon's surface, NASA is now taking steps to prevent a similar accumulation of debris in lunar orbit.

Targeting Space Debris using Network Analysis

Greg Schnippel — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:28:54 -0700

New research indicates that using network analysis to identify and remove key pieces of space debris (i.e. the ones that could cause the most damage by having the greatest number of links to other pieces) could significantly improve prospects for cleaning up space debris.

Space Debris makes Hubble mission Riskier

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:10:24 -0700

The October shuttle mission to overhaul the Hubble Space Telescope faces an increased risk of being struck by pieces of shattered satellites and rockets whipping around the Earth, NASA said Monday.

The space agency estimates the risk of a catastrophic collision for the seven Atlantis astronauts who will fly the 11-day Hubble mission at 1 in 185. The risk of a destructive blow approaches twice that of a shuttle mission to the international space station.

Space Station Dodges Controversial Junk

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:25:41 -0700

For the first time in five years, the international space station changed course on Wednesday to avoid a piece of space junk — in this case, satellite debris that the Russians have insisted wasn't there.

The five-minute maneuver made use of the engines aboard the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle, or ATV, which is docked at the Russian end of the station. As a result of the thruster firing, the space station's 18,000-mph progress around Earth was slowed by about 2 mph, lowering the average height of its orbit by about a mile.

A Canadian Gadget that May Save the World

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:35:02 -0700

Cosmic Clean-Up: Wild Ideas to Sweep Space

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:34:59 -0700

Space junk often hits Earth, not us

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:35:00 -0700

Protecting our Future in Space

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:51 -0700

Security, life threatened by space junk, weapons: report

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:51 -0700

China wants to take out the space trash

Greg Schnippel — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:29:51 -0700