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With the increase in space debris, NASA has announced it will use new laser technology to clear out space debris. The paper was recognized by NASA as the most extensive cost-benefit analysis of orbital debris cleanup to date, noting that previous evaluations of debris removal had mostly emphasized sustainability and the “legal imperative” for doing so. The research determined the most efficient methods involved using terrestrial surface and space-based lasers to clear significant quantities of tiny debris that was between 1 and 10 centimeters in diameter. The investigation also examined the expenses spent by satellite operators as a result of debris. By ten years, the benefits of both laser systems would outweigh their costs.
Space Debris is an object that was once manufactured by humans and is of no use now and is seen floating around in space. An explosion in orbit or nations testing weapons to use against their own satellites could produce debris. Aside from Russia, China, the US, and India have taken down satellites, resulting in space debris. There will undoubtedly be more space junk in the vicinity of Earth when additional satellites are launched by organizations like Elon Musk‘s Starlink and OneWeb satellite network.
According to OECD research, satellite operators in orbit around the earth have calculated that protective and mitigation measures account for around 5–10% of mission expenditures, and the cost is higher for lower-Earth trajectories.
Risks Involved
Luckily, space trash doesn’t currently represent a severe threat to our research endeavors. Its most significant threat is to other satellites that are in orbit. To avoid being struck and maybe being harmed or demolished by all this approaching space debris, these satellites must maneuver out of the path. Every year, all satellites, including the International Space Station (ISS), where humans dwell, conduct hundreds of collision prevention exercises. Although this scenario would be severe, some experts are concerned that a variation of it may become an issue in the future and advise taking precautions to ensure that it never does. The film Gravity also reinvigorated this concept.
NASA’s Discovery
According to NASA, space debris in Earth’s orbit threatens satellites in orbit and departing spacecraft, and by clearing away 100,000 pieces of tiny debris, $23 million in potential damage might be avoided. Although it specifies its preference for the utilization of terrestrial surface or space-based lasers for micro trash and space drags for bigger junk, the study does not state which approach is chosen. The model NASA created for the study, which was solely applicable to US operators, put yearly expenses upon these companies at only $58 million, with both government and military operating satellites like Landsat and thermodynamically stable weather satellites accounting for the majority of this amount.
This research tries to persuade the space community to take a comprehensive strategy for determining the dangers of space debris in financial terms and how debris may influence satellite operations in the next decades, as opposed to depending on markers for risk, such as the number or mass of debris. Before beginning another round that would refine the model and integrate even smaller debris, NASA intended to have a roundtable with various stakeholders to seek input on the study.
