Sam Smith - Just finished watching the Space Policy Show on which three scientists discussed a difficult problem: how to you prevent spacecraft debris from damaging air craft - or even you for that matter. The latter possibility remains somewhat slight given that only person has been struck by debris so far but the underlying problem is an increasingly significant one.
In the last years there have been 55 objects that created problems and it is figured that a piece of space crap could put nearly 100 miles of earth at risk. This has been avoided so far, in part, by arranging to have many spacecraft dump their debris in the little used South Pacific Ocean.
There are a number of possible cures, including installing transponders on stuff that may fall but it is clearly something that is gong to become more important. Today's discussion is not in the archives yet but should be soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment