Space junk?

Question

Does Nasa plann on cleaning up the space Junk we have flying around in orbit? You would think that would become dangerous for future space missions leaving the atmosfear. they say there are some bolts and nuts flying at speeds over 25,000 mph. check it out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/earth/spacejunk.shtml

Answer 1

The junk is impossible to clean up, since the more you clean up, the more junk goes back.

Not to worry, most of the spcecraft sent to space will orbit the earth at around the same speed and direction as the debris, so impacts are minimalized. Furthermore, those that do hit spacecraft do not do much damage, since the vehicles alo have a protective layer of plate and foam somewhere under the skin, so the shock of the impact is absorbed and damage kept down. Large pieces are tracked on earth, and any info regarding possible major impacts are sent to the ships so they can adjust their position slightly to avoid them.

Answer 2

Most of it will eventually fall back to Earth someday, just as Skylab did and the Hubble space telecope will if it is no longer serviced. A few years ago I read a report of a newly discovered NEO (near Earth object) that was presumed to be an Earth grazing asteroid. It was found to be ~30 meters long and ~8 meters wide, and its reflectance spectrum was very odd in that it was identical to pure titanium oxide, with perhaps a smattering of organic substances mixed in. Later on it was determined that it was an upper stage booster from a space launch in the 1960's, now perpetually orbiting the sun. Space Junk!!

Answer 3

There is no way to clean it up. It would be like you trying to pick up all the litter on all the roads in the US, only that litter is zooming around at thousands of miles per hour all the time. Anyway, why should only NASA be responsible for cleaning up junk? Much of it was put there by the Soviet Union and others.

Answer 4

There is none of these pieces of junk traveling at 25,000 Mph.. as that is the escapee velocity to escape from earths gravity. most all the junk material is in the same orbit as u are and it might give u a slight bump , but all will eventually fall to earth.The real danger is from material outside of our system. particles the size of a grain of sand from a comet could be going in excess of 100,000 mph. that could mess up your hold day but they are few and far between.

Answer 5

Impossible to accomplish with our current technology. Space is a big place - very unlikely that one piece will hit another. Of course if and when it happens, (or if it hits the shuttle or ISS) they will be in deep doodoo.

Time to invent shields quick. Where is Scotty when you need him?

Answer 6

they try to locate a gap for you...........yet with you being distinctive branches of the defense force it is going to no longer be common and you'd be aside out of your husband plenty And definite many bases have rank ranges, ie you need to be a definite rank to be even seen for a slot there.

Answer 7

Of coarse they will never clean it up. Unless you want to do it for them...

Answer 8

wow..those are some fast nuts!