SPACE JUNK

Problems, Types, Risks Posed,

and Measures against the
Problem

PRESENTED BY:

CHEMICAL 3
rd
year

THE PROBLEMS
OF
SPACE JUNK
NO WAY TO DISPOSE OF JUNK IN SPACE
Space junk is a serious problem with
thousands of pieces of space junk
orbiting our planet.

There is not an easy way to clean it up.

Most junk came from satellite explosions

Russia and U.S. biggest contributors.


SPACE IS RUNNING OUT IN SPACE
Space is more and more crowded
resulting in collisions between
spacecraft, satellites and junk.


9000 pieces of space junk in space


Pieces 4 inches or longer combined
weigh 5500 tons



WHAT WAS THAT LIGHT IN THE SKY?
One night an eye-
catching flashed across
the night sky


NORAD tracks pieces
of space junk including
screwdrivers and
astronaut gloves.
FACTS ABOUT SPACE JUNK
50 years ago: no space junk

Now: 25,000 pieces the size of baseball
or larger

Most space junk burns on the way to Earth

Junk is potentially harmful if it doesnt burn
before hitting the Earth

Junk could hit spacecraft


SOURCES OF SPACE JUNK
LOST EQUIPMENTS AND BOOSTERS
Astronaut lost a $2700.00 putty knife
which is now orbiting in space as
space junk

Boosters that remain on orbit causes a
serious junk problem, and one of the
major known impact events was due to
an Ariane booster

NASA Hubble telescope become
space junk and needs repairs

DEAD SPACECRAFT
Vanguard1:

Oldest space junk

Is the size of a
cantaloupe

4
th
manmade object
in space

Circled Earth
200,000 times

MYSTERIOUS LIGHT IN SKY WAS
RUSSIAN SPACE JUNK
Jan 4, 2007 bright light
seen moving quickly
across the sky was a
piece of Russian rocket
that launched a French
telescope space junk

RISKS POSED BY SPACE JUNK
SPACE JUNK MAKES AN IMPACT
Space junk poses threat to a space
shuttle orbiter

Space experts fear space junk
smashing a spacecraft into 100s of
pieces

Space around Earth may be so filled
with orbiting junk that space
launchings will no longer be possible





SOME MORE IMPACTS CAUSED BY SPACE
JUNK
Fast moving piece of garbage less than inch can
pierce spacesuit


Fast moving piece 1/3 inch can disable a satellite


Larger pieces can threaten spacecrafts and people on
the ground
THE PROBLEM OF SPACE JUNK
Junk is increasing levels of
radiation in the environment
surrounding the Earth

Space junk causes problems for
satellites and equipment in the
Earths orbit

Chinas test of anti satellite
weapon has more than doubled
the number of near misses
between satellites and debris



If nuclear satellites
ever collide with
space debris and fall
apart, it could
contaminate Earths
atmosphere!!!

THE SATELLITES ABOVE US
On 12 January 2001, a
Star-48 payload assist
module(PAM-D) rocket
upper stage re-entered the
atmosphere after a
"catastrophic orbital decay

93% of objects in Earths
orbit are useless space
junk including:
Abandoned rocket stages,
Lost lens caps
Copper needles from 1960s
radio communication
experiment
HIT OR MISS
0.12 to 0.2 % chance
of space shuttle getting
hit by space debris

1 in 500 to 1 in 300
chance of losing a
space shuttle because
of space junk
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN
AGAINST SPACE JUNK

SPACE ANGELS
Autonomous
NanoSatellite
Guardian for
Evaluating
Local
Space

This nano satellite will
warn satellites about nearby
space junk or hostile
technology









SATELLITES VS. SPACE JUNK:

Need to know how
much fuel a satellite
has so it could avoid
collisions with space
junk
What to do?
Estimate
Sensor to measure gas
pressure levels
OR
Use satellite fuel tank
containing titanium
allow. It uses
ultrasound beam to
more accurately know
how much fuel is left
WHAT TO DO?

Radar and optical detectors should be used for
measurement

Possibly establish international rules and regulation and
how country are allowed to operate in spaces

Satellites must be deployed for junk studies



DEALING WITH JUNK
Critical areas are protected by
whipple shields


Another possible technology
that can aid in reducing space
debris is robotic refueling of
satellites

SELF REMOVEL:-Rather then
using rockets, electrodynamics
tether should be attached with
spacecrafts

BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.theatlantic.com
www.howstuffworks.com
BTKIT LIBRARY
THANKS TO ALL