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02/09/2011
Space Debris 'Increasing Hazard'
The debris left over from seven decades of spaceflight have now become an "increasing hazard", according to a major research body.
The National Research Council said that orbital debris computer models show that the level of 'space junk' has reached a "tipping point" with enough currently in orbit to "continually collide and create even more debris", raising the risk of dangerous spacecraft failures.
"The current space environment is growing increasingly hazardous to spacecraft and astronauts," said Donald Kessler, chair of the committee that wrote the report and retired head of NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office. "NASA needs to determine the best path forward for tackling the multifaceted problems caused by meteoroids and orbital debris that put human and robotic space operations at risk."
Removal of orbital debris introduces another set of complexities, the report said. According to an international legal principle, no nation may salvage or otherwise collect other nations' space objects, and as only 30% of the objects can be attributed to the United States, Nasa isn't clear on how to tackle the problem.
Debris in space can be orbiting at speeds in the region of 18,000 miles-per-hour, and could potentially be devastating to missions, such as the manned International Space Station.
The news comes the day after UK Science Minister David Willetts announced the external membership of the new UK Space Agency Steering Board.
Rob Douglas will chair the Steering Board and other confirmed members are David Southwood, Sally Cantello and Baljit Dhillon.
The Steering Board's role will be to advise Ministers on the strategies to be adopted by the UK Space Agency.
The Board also provides advice and guidance from a commercial standpoint to the Chief Executive and the senior management team on the UK Space Agency's performance, operation and development, including its management of risk.
On his appointment, Rob Douglas said: "The UK has a strong and globally competitive space sector with ambitious targets for growth. The UK Space Agency has a pivotal role in ensuring that the UK meets those targets and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of that."
(DW/BMcC)
The National Research Council said that orbital debris computer models show that the level of 'space junk' has reached a "tipping point" with enough currently in orbit to "continually collide and create even more debris", raising the risk of dangerous spacecraft failures.
"The current space environment is growing increasingly hazardous to spacecraft and astronauts," said Donald Kessler, chair of the committee that wrote the report and retired head of NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office. "NASA needs to determine the best path forward for tackling the multifaceted problems caused by meteoroids and orbital debris that put human and robotic space operations at risk."
Removal of orbital debris introduces another set of complexities, the report said. According to an international legal principle, no nation may salvage or otherwise collect other nations' space objects, and as only 30% of the objects can be attributed to the United States, Nasa isn't clear on how to tackle the problem.
Debris in space can be orbiting at speeds in the region of 18,000 miles-per-hour, and could potentially be devastating to missions, such as the manned International Space Station.
The news comes the day after UK Science Minister David Willetts announced the external membership of the new UK Space Agency Steering Board.
Rob Douglas will chair the Steering Board and other confirmed members are David Southwood, Sally Cantello and Baljit Dhillon.
The Steering Board's role will be to advise Ministers on the strategies to be adopted by the UK Space Agency.
The Board also provides advice and guidance from a commercial standpoint to the Chief Executive and the senior management team on the UK Space Agency's performance, operation and development, including its management of risk.
On his appointment, Rob Douglas said: "The UK has a strong and globally competitive space sector with ambitious targets for growth. The UK Space Agency has a pivotal role in ensuring that the UK meets those targets and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of that."
(DW/BMcC)
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