Tiny Solar Sail Pitched to Clean Up Space Junk.

Apparently we have left a lot of garbage in the Earth's orbit and it can pose a safety risk to astronauts as well as satellites. The garbage also poses a risk to human beings back here on earth in the form of falling debris. It is also an eye sore.

Now, According to National Geographic, the Surrey Space Center based out of the United Kingdom, may be able to thwart this growing concern. Though it sounds like it would be a costly endeavor.

Here is the link below:

blogs.nationalgeographic.com...







[edit on 4-4-2010 by Isosceles]

I think it would be worth doing if it works! But there also has to be a commitment to stop creating new space junk if possible.

Originally posted by Isosceles
Apparently we have left a lot of garbage in the Earth's orbit and it can pose a safety risk to astronauts as well as satellites. The garbage also poses a risk to human beings back here on earth in the form of falling debris. It is also an eye sore.

Now, According to National Geographic, the Surrey Space Center based out of the United Kingdom, may be able to thwart this growing concern. Though it sounds like it would be a costly endeavor.

Here is the link below:

blogs.nationalgeographic.com...







[edit on 4-4-2010 by Isosceles]

Actually, if done right, it wouldn't be all that expensive (relatively). I feel bad for the people who are tasked with mapping the trajectories and relative speeds of all the debris and the solar net itself though, bleh!

So not only are we creating a Dump of our Planet, we're also creating a Dump around our Planet..

I wonder what another Civilisation from another world would see if they could focus their telescopes on this Planet and see it Clearly?

It would really show them, in true Clarity, how we look after our Backyard..

It's pretty pathetic. I guess it comes down to "Out of Sight, Out of Mind"..

I guarantee that in the future that space junk will either be used for resources or will become collectors items.