Item 8
Read the passage.
Space Junk!
Imagine small pieces of debris hurtling through space at up to 22,300 miles per hour—faster than a speeding bullet. Next, envision those pieces of debris colliding with each other, explosively creating even more smashed bits, as they continue zooming through space. Now, try to imagine a cloud of this debris encircling our planet.
You have just created a picture of space junk.
“Space junk” is a term used to describe the different bits and pieces of debris that orbit earth and other planets at mind-boggling speeds.
What is this “junk,” and how did it end up in outer space?
This “junk” is actually debris from objects sent into space. It includes everything from parts of space shuttles to satellites. Pieces from rocket launchers, bits of metal fallen off of satellites, nuts and bolts, and even chips of paint are all considered space junk. The Space Surveillance Network, a group that keeps track of the debris, has seen garbage bags, lens caps, and even a spatula!
Currently, there are around 900,000 pieces of debris between 1 centimeter and 10 centimeters in length orbiting in our space system, and this number is growing. The pieces vary in size from softball-sized to those the size of marbles, or even smaller. Additionally, there are millions of debris pieces too small to measure.
But isn’t space HUGE? Isn’t there enough room for these little bits of junk to pass each other?
Although space is extremely vast, most of the junk that is worrisome is orbiting earth. It is estimated that there are about 22,300 bits of trash the size of golf balls, in addition to half a million smaller pieces whizzing around earth in the “low earth orbit.” This means that the junk is within 1,250 miles of earth’s surface. Sharing this space are active satellites, so there is growing concern about how to keep the satellites from being hit by the debris. There have been a few incidents where this has already happened. For example, in 1996, some debris from a French rocket damaged a French satellite. Surprisingly, the rocket had been launched ten years previously! In 2009, a non-operational Russian satellite smashed into an American satellite. This collision added another 2,000 pieces of junk to the growing pile of space debris.
Scientists have labored for years to try to protect both active satellites and the International Space Station (ISS), a space laboratory run by astronauts from different nations. To protect the ISS, scientists have developed the capability to maneuver the station out of harm’s way. There are also emergency plans in place to protect the astronauts working at the ISS. These plans would isolate the crew to another part of the station to keep them safe in the event of a collision.
Still, these measures do not solve the problem of what to do about space junk.
In our modern world, we have become more and more dependent on satellites to help us with many things. Among these are communication systems, weather predictions, and navigation. The more we rely on advanced technology, the more likely it is that we will send additional satellites into space. It is not realistic to assume that the number of items launched into space will decrease.
Scientists are working on solutions to deal with the problem. For example, Japan has designed a device that looks like a giant rope with a 444-pound weight attached to one end. The weight could swing around and basically knock debris out of orbit. Then it would burn up in earth’s atmosphere. Other ideas for debris removal have included harpoons, giant magnets, and nets that would capture the debris. Some solutions propose an end-of-life plan for future launches, in which the debris would be sent farther into space or destroyed.
Because humans’ interest in exploring space continues to grow, there is little chance that the number of objects in space will decrease. However, as people become more aware of the problem of space junk, the same energy dedicated to exploring space must be directed toward creative ways of cleaning it up.
Read this sentence from "Space Junk!"
In our modern world, we have become more and more dependent on satellites to help us with many things.
What is the meaning of dependent?
worried about
excited about
relying on
interested in