Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Schildknecht’s team at University of Bern in Switzerland has been tracking the most dangerous pieces of space debris for several years and now uses lasers to track their trajectories. In addition to predicting dangerous collisions, astronomers use their database to schedule observations when their view won’t be obstructed by stray space junk. Schildknecht said, “We get precise information so we can inform astronomers when there is something flying by, so they can choose their observing times a little differently. It’s already a problem.”
Schildknecht’s database is only one of the sources consulted by commercial space firms such as COMSPOC, a Pennsylvania-based company that, among other things, offers to keep satellite operators apprised about any potential threat in their orbits, including space debris, so they can avoid them if possible.
Dan Oltrogge is the chief scientist of COMSPOC. He said that he welcomes the FCC’s new five-year lifetime and thinks that it should be even stricter. He noted that the new U.S. rule will not affect new constellations like Starlink from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. SpaceX is a network of thousands of satellites which will be able to provide internet services almost anywhere on Earth. Those satellites are not included because they are already in a low-orbit and are expected to deorbit after about a year. He said, “They’re demonstrating that not only should you do it in five years, you should do way better than that.”
Many space experts believe that the only good solution to the space junk problem will be to send up robot spacecraft to gather all the space junk and deorbit it. Work has already begun on incorporating deorbiting systems in new satellites so they can remove themselves from orbit when the time comes.
Astroscale is a Japanese startup aimed at dealing with space junk. Last year, they captured a simulated piece of space junk in a test. They have a contract with the satellite constellation operator OneWeb to deorbit its retired satellites.
In 2019, the European Space Agency selected ClearSpace, a private company, to remove objects from orbit utilizing a robot spacecraft with large claws. They expect to start tests in Earth orbit in 2026.
Starfish Space is a Seattle-based startup. It is developing a space-tug called Otter to service satellites in orbit. Otter will also push space debris into low orbits where it will fall to Earth. The company expects to launch by 2024.
Such active measures are also an essential part of a bill for an ORBITS Act. This piece of legislation would require NASA and the space industry to explore new solutions to the problems of space junk.
Purdue’s Freuh suggested that another possible solution to the problems of space debris will be not to leave junk in orbit in the first place. She said, “Moving in the direction of active removal is certainly what we need. But it will not be a standalone measure. … We also need to design our missions with space debris problems in mind, and to bring things down as soon as possible after a mission is completed.”