Researchers want to proceed with a powerful laser against space junk - derStandard.at

1 September 2013, 18:07

Moscow / Berlin – The number of orbiting satellites in Earth orbit increases rapidly along with the amount of space debris, the last but not least also endangers human spaceflight. Therefore, scientists have long been working on technical solutions to this problem. A possible weapon has now been introduced: The hazardous waste could be made in the future with a powerful laser from Earth harmless. “In order for the waste to be captured or altered his course, he burns up in the atmosphere,” said the head of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Johann-Dietrich Wörner, in Moscow.

DLR is currently testing such detection in orbit. After 50 years of space travel thousands residues would now rush to the earth and threaten the planet. “I think it is urgent to finally clean up our orbit” says Woerner.

According to the European Space Agency is at most scrap parts to retired satellites, rocket stages burned or chipped paint and debris caused explosions of upper stages and satellites. Many of them have a speed of more than 10.000 kilometers per hour. A large part is due to military testing of so-called anti-satellite weapons. Lost by astronaut gloves and screwdriver rush through space. The International Space Station, for example, must therefore start several evasive maneuvers annually.

More than 100 million debris

To make space flight safer, about 8,500 pieces of debris with a size of more than ten centimeters after ESA data using radars and telescopes observed. Because due to their high speed, they can destroy a spacecraft and endanger astronauts. Fragments of less than one centimeter are no longer detectable from Earth, but can still be dangerous. The U.S. space agency NASA estimates their number at more than 100 million.

but

Larger parts may cause problems on Earth: The uncontrolled crash of disused German X-ray satellite “ROSAT” had made headlines in October 2011. After fears that the 2.5-ton apparatus can fall on populated areas, however, the apparatus burned up in the atmosphere. (APA / red, derStandard.at, 01.09.2013)

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links

DLR Space Debris Research

ESA Space Debris

NASA Orbital Debris Program Office