Space Junk: All Missions to Space Need End-of-Life Plans

The vast and majestic oceans of our planet have long captivated our imagination with their beauty and mystery.  As humanity eagerly embraces the wonders of space exploration and satellite technology, we inadvertently leave a trail of space junk in our wake that has grown exponentially since the start of the space age on Oct. 4, 1957 with Sputnik the first functioning man-made orbiting satellite.

As flights and satellites proliferated so did the trash. Compared to litter on Earth, space debris is extremely hard and expensive to clean up and it’s also in the way. There are 8,400 tons of primarily broken satellites and used rocket bodies is encapsulating the earth in a dense skirt. Removing debris from space is a much more complicated remediation situation than in the oceans. 

These orbiting fragments, akin to the discarded flotsam and jetsam of the oceans, pose a growing concern and potentially deadly future for space missions and the delicate cosmic equilibrium. Just as we have learned to cherish and protect our oceans, it is now imperative that we address the escalating issue of space debris, safeguarding our celestial frontier must begin now as the race for space revenue and orbital real estate heats up. With the addition of 25,000 more satellites by 2031 it will become worse quickly. 

 

As the next industrial revolution is anticipated to be in space, space debris, also known as space junk, poses a serious threat to future space exploration endeavors, astronomical experiments, and more. Unless we take immediate and sustainable action now the critical issue of space debris, its impact on space exploration, could altogether and permanently disrupt future space exploration.

More than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris, or “space junk,” are tracked by the Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensors. Much more debris — too small to be tracked, but large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic missions — exists in the near-Earth space environment.  Since both the debris and spacecraft are traveling at extremely high speeds (approximately 15,700 mph in low Earth orbit), an impact of even a tiny piece of orbital debris with a spacecraft could create big problems. (NASA)

Understanding Space Junk

Space debris refers to defunct human-made objects floating in Earth’s orbit, ranging from spent rocket stages to abandoned satellites. These fragments can vary in size, from tiny paint flecks to large defunct satellites, and they travel at extraordinarily high speeds, posing significant dangers to active satellites and space missions. The increasing accumulation of space debris poses a serious risk of collisions, which could lead to a cascading effect known as the Kessler Syndrome, making certain regions of space unusable for future exploration.

The Department of Defense maintains a highly accurate satellite catalog on objects in Earth orbit. The majority of the cataloged objects are larger than a softball (approximately 10 centimeters) but even a fleck of paint can cause dangerous problems for objects in orbit say scientists at NASA.

The Impact of Space Junk on Space Exploration

The exponential growth of space debris poses a substantial risk to both crewed and uncrewed space missions like the number of SpaceX contracts exploding. These objects can collide with satellites, spacecraft, or space stations, causing damage, malfunctions, or even complete destruction. The loss of critical space infrastructure not only jeopardizes ongoing missions but also hinders the possibility of future exploration and interferes with current telescopes and satellites.  Additionally, space debris increases the cost of space missions, as protective measures need to be taken to safeguard against potential collisions.

SpaceX has had to steer their satellites more than 1000 times to avoid the debris from Russia destroying her own satellite in 2021.

Satellite Experiments and Collisions:

Existing satellites colliding with each other or destroyed intentionally without considering the debris created makes it multiply.

In 1996, a French satellite suffered damage when struck by debris from a French rocket that had exploded ten years earlier. Space junk harms the people creating it too.

On Feb. 10, 2009, a non-functional Russian spacecraft collided with and destroyed a functional U.S. Iridium commercial spacecraft. This collision, in addition to ruining two projects, resulted in the addition of over 2,300 large, trackable pieces of debris and numerous smaller fragments to the growing collection of space junk.

Similarly, China’s anti-satellite test in 2007, involving the destruction of an old weather satellite using a missile, introduced more than 3,500 large, trackable debris pieces and an even greater number of smaller fragments, exacerbating the challenge of orbital debris management.

Space junk, also known as space debris, will become untenable if not dealt with now because:

1. Collision Risks: Space junk travels at high speeds, and collisions with active satellites, spacecraft, or space stations can cause severe damage or destruction, posing risks to ongoing space missions.
2. Kessler Syndrome: A major concern is the potential for a chain reaction of collisions, known as the Kessler Syndrome, where one collision generates more debris, leading to a cascading effect and making certain regions of space unusable for future missions.
3. Threat to Crewed Missions: Crewed spacecraft are vulnerable to space junk collisions, jeopardizing the safety of astronauts and missions.
4. Communication Disruptions: Space debris can interfere with communication signals between Earth and satellites, causing disruptions in various industries that rely on satellite communication. It is already interfering with astronomical research and may soon make it impossible.
5. Navigational Hazards: Space debris poses navigational challenges for spacecraft and satellites, necessitating constant monitoring and adjustments to avoid collisions.
6. Damage to Telescopes: Space debris collisions can damage sensitive space telescopes, impacting scientific research and observation of the cosmos.
7. Financial Impact: Dealing with space debris, such as collision avoidance maneuvers and debris removal missions, incurs significant costs for space agencies and satellite operators.
8. Space Exploration Limitations: The growing accumulation of space debris restricts the possibilities for future space exploration, as certain regions of space may become too hazardous for missions.
9. Environmental Impact: Debris that re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere can cause environmental concerns, and some space debris may contain hazardous materials from pharma manufacturing in space.
10. Satellite Anomalies: Space debris collisions can cause malfunctions or anomalies in satellites, affecting their performance and functionality.
11. Space Debris Generation: In some cases, space debris can generate smaller fragments when colliding, exacerbating the space junk problem.
12. Satellite Traffic Management: The increasing amount of space debris requires robust satellite traffic management systems to avoid congestion and collisions in space.
13. International Tensions: Space debris issues may lead to tensions among countries operating satellites and spacecraft in shared orbital regions.
14. Loss of Historical Artifacts: Debris from past space missions, such as defunct satellites, may include historical artifacts that could be lost or damaged in collisions. Space Debris is a treasure trove for archaeologists when from historic missions like Apollo and the moon landing.
15. Unpredictable Trajectories: Space debris can have unpredictable trajectories, making it challenging to anticipate potential collisions accurately.

These problems highlight the urgency of implementing sustainable solutions to manage and mitigate the space debris issue for the future of space exploration and satellite operations.

Sustainable Solutions for Space Junk

1. Debris Removal Missions

Implementing debris removal missions, equipped with advanced robotics and space technologies, can actively target and capture large space debris objects. These objects could then be safely guided towards controlled re-entry (de-orbitting junk) or redirected to orbits where they pose minimal risks.

The RemoveDEBRIS spacecraft, launched from the ISS, is dedicated to cleaning up space junk encircling Earth, including old satellites and defunct spacecraft. The spacecraft weighs 100kg and is equipped with a big net, harpoon, and Vision Based Navigation (VBN) system to track debris. It already has netted space junk successfully.

RemoveDEBRIS will perform additional tests in October and December.

2. Satellite Design for End-of-Life Disposal

Satellite manufacturers can play a crucial role in space debris mitigation by designing spacecraft with built-in propulsion systems for end-of-life disposal. This would enable the controlled deorbiting of satellites after their operational lifetimes, reducing the number of defunct objects in orbit. It should be compulsory.

The Russian Space Agency is also planning to shoot down satellites with a 3 meter laser cannon. What satellites are made with is now important. Companies who cannot operate without creating junk should not be allowed into space and SpaceX says it’s hard but possible to take steps to directly address space debris. If SpaceX, the largest offender now (1600 more satellites will be put in orbit this year) does not take a stewardship lead, things will get worse. If not careful, the debris generated in this boom may preclude safe trips to colonize Mars. It is in SpaceX’s own best interest to do more about junk now or it won’t have much of a future.

3. Sustainable Spacecraft Materials

Developing and utilizing sustainable and biodegradable materials for spacecraft construction could significantly reduce the long-term impact of space debris. These materials would naturally decompose over time, minimizing the space junk accumulation. Roscom has invented a self-degrading satellite that begins to decompose when sent a signal from Earth. Its made of material that sublimates (goes from solid to gas spontaneously) on cue.

4. International Collaboration and Regulations

Obviously, all voyagers to space must exercise the same precautions aimed at zero debris or the steps taken to clean up Earth’s orbit will be in vain. Taking prompt and sustainable action is imperative to protect our endeavors beyond Earth’s atmosphere. By embracing advanced technologies, designing space missions with end-of-life disposal in mind, and fostering international cooperation, we can pave the way for a cleaner and safer space environment.

Together, we can preserve the wonders of space for future generations. This can only happen by striving for a space environment with zero debris. If we don’t clean it up now or stop making it, we shouldn’t go there.