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The research project called RemoveDEBRIS is
an effort to test various space junk removal technologies. The project, which involves a 220-pound satellite in low Earth orbit, is being led by the University of Surrey
In its third test, the project successfully snatched a piece of debris using its space harpoon. The harpoon shot out at 65 feet per second/20 meters per second (0.0007% of the maximum velocity of a sheep in a vacuum) its space-harpoon-claws successfully digging into the target and gaining a firm lock.
Previously, the satellite deployed a net to capture a simulated piece of space junk, and a laser-based camera system was used to locate a floating chunk of space debris. A fourth and final experiment will be conducted in March, when the satellite will pump the brakes by deploying a small sail.
At this point the satellite, and its low orbit loot, will plunge to Earth to burn up in the atmosphere.
The U.S. Space Surveillance Network estimates that around 29,000 objects larger than 10 centimeters are currently floating in Earth orbit, some at speeds approaching 10 kilometers per second, or 6 miles per second.
These bits and bobs can smash into other items in orbit creating even more debris in a cascading Earth enveloping satellite and astronaut destroying shower of doom referred to as the Kessler syndrome, named after Donald J. Kessler who first proposed it in 1978.
Lunar orbit is looking like a better place to be.
Previous Coverage: SpaceX Launches CRS-14 Resupply Mission to the ISS and Space Junk Removal Testing Craft Ejected From the ISS
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 16 2019, @02:36PM (1 child)
Don't make more trash.
That's a high bar for space trash collection.
(Score: 2) by Kalas on Saturday February 16 2019, @07:01PM
Yeah, while seeing "SPACE HARPOONS" instantly got my interest, the second thought was that this will make significant debris most of the time at least.
I wonder if laser tech is about good enough we could send one up powerful enough to entirely vaporize small debris near its orbit. I know we've been able to shoot down missiles with them for quite some time but who knows if that can be made feasible in something we can launch into orbit yet. Getting a suitably small power supply and adequate cooling would seem to be the biggest obstacles.
Or hell, maybe I'm envisioning this all wrong and a laser would be just as bad for making more debris.