Space Junk - A Different Kind Of Pollution
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DescriptionAn article that explores the dangers of space junk and how it is detrimental to humanity.
MessageOriginally written in 2022.
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ESASpaceX, NASA, Jeff Bezos... a strange combination, I know. As humans, we are fascinated by the idea of venturing beyond our atmosphere and into the unknown. However, an expanding net of debris is accumulating in our orbit, making it increasingly difficult to launch rockets into space, especially those carrying humans.
The first question you might ask is, "What is in our orbit?" When someone says "landfill," the first thing that comes to mind is massive heaps of junk and trash. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Earth's orbit resembles. Orbit pollution may sound like a fabricated issue, but in reality, it poses a major threat to space exploration and is a problem we must address.
As of September 16, 2021, there were 7,941 satellites in orbit. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first-ever satellite, Sputnik. This satellite, about the size of a beach ball, could orbit Earth every hour and 38 minutes. In contrast, today’s International Space Station (ISS) is roughly the size of a football field and travels at an astonishing 4.76 miles per second. Since Sputnik, satellites have been launched at an unprecedented rate, significantly improving life on Earth. For example, on September 27, 2021, NASA's Landsat 9 was deployed to track climate change, forest cover, droughts, and more.
Satellites are critical to modern life; without them, tasks like commuting to work or communicating with friends via phone would be far more challenging. However, functional satellites are not the primary cause of orbital pollution. The real issue stems from deactivated satellites drifting aimlessly in space, bound to collide with other objects. These fragments, often moving faster than a bullet, pose a severe risk to anything in their path, and the consequences of such collisions could be disastrous.
Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has frequently discussed the growing concern of space debris. In an episode of his podcast StarTalk titled Space Junk, Starlink, and Falling Rockets – Cosmic Queries, he addresses the issue, stating: "If we have functioning satellites, they are not junk, but if we have thousands and thousands of satellites, isn’t there a risk they could collide with each other?" Out of nearly 30,000 trackable objects in orbit, only about 3,500 are operational satellites. Notably, Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, operates around 1,500 of them, meaning that coordination with Musk is often necessary before launching a rocket to navigate the orbital highways.
Space debris, which can range in size from a fingernail to much larger objects, has the potential to tear through a spacecraft. The challenge lies in tracking these small, fast-moving objects, as larger debris can be monitored and avoided. Much of this debris originates from satellite malfunctions, spacecraft explosions, or intentional destruction of objects in orbit. Over time, this accumulation creates what is essentially an “orbital landfill.” While some debris eventually re-enters Earth’s atmosphere or drifts out of orbit, this process takes years, if not decades. On December 15, 2020, Russia launched a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile to destroy one of its own satellites, leaving behind a hazardous cloud of debris. This event exemplifies the growing issue of space pollution, which threatens future space exploration and requires constant monitoring by agencies like the Department Of Defense.
Additionally, the United States Space Force plays a crucial role in tracking space debris. By identifying and mapping orbital threats, they work with governments and organizations to develop strategies for avoiding collisions. Space debris is a modern challenge, and efforts to mitigate its dangers are ongoing.
Dr. Otto, a physics and astronomy teacher at Monomoy Regional High School, provided further insight into the issue. When discussing possible solutions, he explained, "It’s going to be a struggle because a big contributor to space debris is the government. Different governments are basically causing problems for our orbit… There are no rules on who is required to take their junk down."
Dr. Otto also noted that most space debris is at least one centimeter in size and travels at extreme speeds. Earth’s orbit consists of two levels: low Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit. Low Earth orbit is closer to the atmosphere, while geosynchronous orbit follows a more distant elliptical trajectory. When debris collides with a satellite, it creates additional fragments, leading to a domino effect. "The point at which it would be impossible to launch from Earth," Dr. Otto warned, "would be when you have so much debris and so many satellites that they cannot be maneuvered around." Without proper coordination and regulation, our orbit could become so cluttered that future launches become impossible.
Space junk is an underrecognized problem, yet it has the potential to halt humanity’s progress in space exploration. Action must be taken swiftly to address this growing crisis before it becomes an insurmountable barrier to our expansion into the cosmos.
The first question you might ask is, "What is in our orbit?" When someone says "landfill," the first thing that comes to mind is massive heaps of junk and trash. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Earth's orbit resembles. Orbit pollution may sound like a fabricated issue, but in reality, it poses a major threat to space exploration and is a problem we must address.
As of September 16, 2021, there were 7,941 satellites in orbit. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first-ever satellite, Sputnik. This satellite, about the size of a beach ball, could orbit Earth every hour and 38 minutes. In contrast, today’s International Space Station (ISS) is roughly the size of a football field and travels at an astonishing 4.76 miles per second. Since Sputnik, satellites have been launched at an unprecedented rate, significantly improving life on Earth. For example, on September 27, 2021, NASA's Landsat 9 was deployed to track climate change, forest cover, droughts, and more.
Satellites are critical to modern life; without them, tasks like commuting to work or communicating with friends via phone would be far more challenging. However, functional satellites are not the primary cause of orbital pollution. The real issue stems from deactivated satellites drifting aimlessly in space, bound to collide with other objects. These fragments, often moving faster than a bullet, pose a severe risk to anything in their path, and the consequences of such collisions could be disastrous.
Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has frequently discussed the growing concern of space debris. In an episode of his podcast StarTalk titled Space Junk, Starlink, and Falling Rockets – Cosmic Queries, he addresses the issue, stating: "If we have functioning satellites, they are not junk, but if we have thousands and thousands of satellites, isn’t there a risk they could collide with each other?" Out of nearly 30,000 trackable objects in orbit, only about 3,500 are operational satellites. Notably, Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, operates around 1,500 of them, meaning that coordination with Musk is often necessary before launching a rocket to navigate the orbital highways.
Space debris, which can range in size from a fingernail to much larger objects, has the potential to tear through a spacecraft. The challenge lies in tracking these small, fast-moving objects, as larger debris can be monitored and avoided. Much of this debris originates from satellite malfunctions, spacecraft explosions, or intentional destruction of objects in orbit. Over time, this accumulation creates what is essentially an “orbital landfill.” While some debris eventually re-enters Earth’s atmosphere or drifts out of orbit, this process takes years, if not decades. On December 15, 2020, Russia launched a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile to destroy one of its own satellites, leaving behind a hazardous cloud of debris. This event exemplifies the growing issue of space pollution, which threatens future space exploration and requires constant monitoring by agencies like the Department Of Defense.
Additionally, the United States Space Force plays a crucial role in tracking space debris. By identifying and mapping orbital threats, they work with governments and organizations to develop strategies for avoiding collisions. Space debris is a modern challenge, and efforts to mitigate its dangers are ongoing.
Dr. Otto, a physics and astronomy teacher at Monomoy Regional High School, provided further insight into the issue. When discussing possible solutions, he explained, "It’s going to be a struggle because a big contributor to space debris is the government. Different governments are basically causing problems for our orbit… There are no rules on who is required to take their junk down."
Dr. Otto also noted that most space debris is at least one centimeter in size and travels at extreme speeds. Earth’s orbit consists of two levels: low Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit. Low Earth orbit is closer to the atmosphere, while geosynchronous orbit follows a more distant elliptical trajectory. When debris collides with a satellite, it creates additional fragments, leading to a domino effect. "The point at which it would be impossible to launch from Earth," Dr. Otto warned, "would be when you have so much debris and so many satellites that they cannot be maneuvered around." Without proper coordination and regulation, our orbit could become so cluttered that future launches become impossible.
Space junk is an underrecognized problem, yet it has the potential to halt humanity’s progress in space exploration. Action must be taken swiftly to address this growing crisis before it becomes an insurmountable barrier to our expansion into the cosmos.
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