Introduction
Author
Isabelle Jacobson
PHYS F211X F06, Fall 2018
Professor David Newman
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Space Debris Removal Systems

Space debris low in Earth's orbit has become a significant threat to current and future spacecraft missions.

  • Space debris can collide with and damage spacecraft.
  • These collisions contribute to the cascade effect of space debris.
  • As a result, space debris has become smaller and harder to detect by current systems.

If you are interested in learning about possible methods for active debris removal and technological methods of detecting and avoiding debris, continue reading »

Future of Spacecraft

  Space debris in Earth’s lower orbit threatens current and future spacecraft, posing a growing economic and environmental risk. As international space programs continue to develop new space technology for space exploration, technology must be developed to remove the debris threatening the future missions of all spacecraft. This is to avoid collisions between valuable spacecraft and debris, thus wasting space program funding and polluting Earth’s lower atmosphere. There are many different ways to remove space debris, and vary in practicality depending on the type of debris the debris removal system is targeting and necessary efficiency to adhere to time constraints. Active debris removal methods require physical contact with and removal of debris to prevent debris from colliding with other debris or with spacecraft. Technological advances in debris removal involve the systems put in place in the active removal systems assisting spacecraft to avoid collisions with debris or other spacecraft. If conservation efforts for Earth extend beyond its surface and into the atmosphere, the environmental impact as a result of increased funding will be observable and has both environmental benefits for Earth’s atmosphere and economic benefits for international space programs.