Space

Cleaning Up Outer Space

Space debris is more of an issue than you think

By: Liam Daquioag, Journalist

September 26, 2024

Trash in space. This is most likely a problem you’ve never thought about, yet it poses a massive threat. So what is trash doing in space, why is it even there, and how does it cause issues?

Space debris describes a variety of objects. Debris could be a result from a stage of a rocket, a dead satellite, or maybe even a tiny particle. Over time, more and more rockets were launched, whether for a mission or for a commercial satellite. Nowadays, space is a lot more crowded because of this. About 25 thousand objects over 10 cm are orbiting earth as of January 2022 (according to NASA).

Most space debris is in low-earth orbit. Unfortunately, most satellites also stay in low-earth orbit. This makes satellites vulnerable to small debris that can destroy essential parts. Shielding tiny debris is much harder than you think due to the sheer speed of it (about 8 km/s). This is why space programs like NASA are worried and why space clean-up missions are happening. However, there’s a slow ticking timer slowly creating more space debris: Kessler Syndrome.

Kessler Syndrome

Kessler Syndrome is named after Donald Kessler, who created the scenario alongside Burton Cour-Paslais. It starts with a single collision of space debris and a satellite. The collision creates more space debris which will go on to hit other satellites causing more debris and so on. This chain reaction will make it significantly harder for low-earth satellites to operate, hurting communication and other services like GPS.

The Solutions

Multiple missions have been made to solve the problem. For example, ClearSpace has partnered up with other programs and is working to find solutions before space becomes more dangerous. Solutions like lasers are being used to knock out smaller space debris. Take a look: