Claudia Ortiz de Pablo, 1º B ESO

How much junk is in space?

Debris or space junk object is called an artificial without any utility for orbiting Earth . It consists of some varied things like large remnants of old rockets and satellites, remnants of explosions, or remnants of rocket components such as dust and paint chips .

In 2014 , the Russian Space Agency proposed a project to build a device that would eliminate a portion of the space junk , beginning in the geostationary orbit. Under the bill, the cost would be about 300 million dollars and the term of the project is projected between 2016 and 2025.

Is a machine with 4 tons. Each launch would be able to draw from the orbit 10 satellites, over a period of 6 months. What would the device is useless to take the satellites to a graveyard orbit (taller than the geostationary).

Why should I worry about junk space?

Space junk has become an increasing concern in recent years, since collisions at orbital velocities can be highly damaging to functioning satellites and can also produce even more space junk in a process called Kessler Syndrome. The International Space Station is shielded to mitigate the damage from this danger.

Despite the small size of most of the fragments, the breakneck speed at which they are subjected , make them a serious threat to any mission may be made in the near future .

Since 1991, there have been at least three collisions in Earth orbit because of the space junk. These collisions will multiply and, simultaneously , increase hazardous objects in orbit . Experts estimate more than 18 crashes per year is the number of accidents caused by these junks within two centuries.

Space junk has endangered even the crew of the International Space Station. Although waste passed 250 meters, the six astronauts who remained on board were forced to perform an emergency evacuation and shelter in the two Soyuz spacecraft docked to the station.