BBC Horizon : The Trouble with Space Junk

[Scubbie]

Could this be the end of Satellite communications, navigation and so much more?

BBC iPlayer - Horizon - 2014-2015: 13. The Trouble with Space Junk

Horizon reveals the scale of the problem of space junk. In 2014, the International Space Station had to move three times to avoid lethal chunks of space debris.

(Also available via your Sky STB/Box)

[Sky Q 2TB]

Nice post , I like all the space stuff. We are not alone

[Scubbie]

The episode discussed the quantity of space junk currently floating around our planet. Considering that on October 4th we'll (well perhaps the Russians more) be celebrating 60 years since Sputnik was launched. It spent 3 months in orbit, even though it's batteries only lasted for 21 days. It burned up on 4th January 1958.

Since Sputnik our whole planet has benefited hugely from the exploration of space. The use of various orbits around this rock we call Earth has become hugely accepted, yet the Satellite are also very vulnerable to damage. Space junk has increased hugely in the past few years. Sure there are some large lumps, such as rocket stages, but even flecks of paint can cripple a Satellite due to the speed they are travelling at.

We now have the technology to find and track items that are around 10cm I think the programme mentioned. With something like 17,000 piece now being tracked all the time. However that is not everything. It is suspected that there are several times more pieces smaller than 1cm.

The International Space Station travels at 17,150 mph. If a 1cm piece of metal is travelling in the opposite direction at the same speed, this would be enough to not only pierce the shield around the ISS, but it could also cause it to explode.



Did anyone see Gravity?

[Sky Q 2TB]

Did anyone see Gravity?

Yep , I saw it on a huge Imax screen in 3D