International Space Station Fired Its Thrusters Friday To Dodge More Space Debris (space.com) 13
"The International Space Station dodged a fragment of a decades-old rocket body early Friday morning," reports Space.com, "continuing a stretch of space debris threats to the orbiting laboratory."
On Friday (Dec. 3) at around 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT), a Russian cargo ship docked to the International Space Station fired for a little under three minutes to lower the facility's orbit and ensure that it would pass safely by the debris, according to statements from NASA and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos....
In a tweet posted on Wednesday (Dec. 1), Roscosmos flagged the risk posed by the rocket fragment, which it said was estimated to pass as close as 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers) to the space station. Just the day before the alert was posted, on Tuesday (Nov. 30), NASA had been forced to delay a spacewalk scheduled for later in the day due to concerns about debris. The agency has not specified what that debris represents, but NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were able to conduct their excursion on Thursday (Dec. 2).
NASA identified Friday's debris was part of a 1994 U.S. Pegasus rocket, which later broke up in space 1996.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday (Dec. 1), Roscosmos flagged the risk posed by the rocket fragment, which it said was estimated to pass as close as 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers) to the space station. Just the day before the alert was posted, on Tuesday (Nov. 30), NASA had been forced to delay a spacewalk scheduled for later in the day due to concerns about debris. The agency has not specified what that debris represents, but NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron were able to conduct their excursion on Thursday (Dec. 2).
NASA identified Friday's debris was part of a 1994 U.S. Pegasus rocket, which later broke up in space 1996.
Speaking of dodging... (Score:4, Funny)
We need International Regulation and Funding (Score:4)
Polluters should be responsible for the cleanup. Anything else is theft from future generations and humanity in general. Uncle Sam, Mother Russia, Jade Emperor, you need to kick start the International fund to pay for the cleanup of the mess you have made. Any country that contributes to the problem should be required to pay. The argument that national security and defense justify this a mess is illogical.
When nuclear plants are built in the US, money is set aside for their decommissioning. This same system should apply to orbital systems. Unless it can be shown that the orbit will decay naturally and safely, orbital operators should set aside money for decommissioning and potential cleanup of retired systems.
This represents a big opportunity for commercial operators like Space-X and Blue Origin and new startups. Cleanup money will help fund advancement in extraterrestrial technology.
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And how does one "clean-up" space? Call Mega Maid [youtu.be]?
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While a lot of the debris higher up is made up of defunct satellites, much of what's in low-earth orbit consists of old launch vehicles, fairings, etc. Every launch vehicle should have a complete de-orbit plan, and the means to do so. Most American launches actually do this now, hence the criticism of the Chinese for letting their booster float around for a few weeks before re-entering uncontrollably. And obviously the stupidity of blowing up satellites should be banned.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Polluters should be responsible for the cleanup. .. ..
.. etc etc
This represents a big opportunity for commercial operators like Space-X
You are aware that SpaceX intends to put up 42,000 satellites, each with a life of only about 5 years? They are supposed to de-orbit at EoL but we will see how that works out. Assuming none are smashed to bits by other debris, making even more junk with a slow chain reaction effect.
Re:We need International Regulation and Funding (Score:5, Informative)
You are aware that SpaceX intends to put up 42,000 satellites, each with a life of only about 5 years? They are supposed to de-orbit at EoL but we will see how that works out.
StarLink satellites orbit at 550 km. That is low enough to experience atmospheric drag and requires ionic thrusters to maintain orbit.
When a StarLink satellite reaches EoL, the thrusters stop working, and it deorbits in a few months.
Because of the atmospheric drag, there is less debris in these low orbits and less chance of impacts.
StarLink is a responsible space citizen.
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Re:We need International Regulation and Funding (Score:4, Informative)
The low orbit satellites will crash back to earth?
StarLink satellites are small enough (260 kg) to burn up in the atmosphere when they deorbit.
There is no danger to anyone or anything on the ground.
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Summer of the Shark (Score:3)
Sorry, I meant "Fall of the Space Debris"
https://www.businessinsider.co... [businessinsider.com]
Friday marked the second time the ISS had to change course in order to avoid debris this year, including once last month, when Russia swerved the station away from a piece of junk. In 2020, the orbiting laboratory had to dodge debris on three occasions. During its two decades orbiting Earth, the ISS has moved to avoid space junk at least 30 times.
20 years. 30 changes in course. 1.5 changes in course per year. So, we're pretty much right on pace (and down from last year).
Re: Summer of the Shark (Score:3)