Japan is looking for ways to deal with space debris. Ever since the space age began, space junk that consists of satellites, rocket parts, and wreckage from collisions has been piling up. It is even more concerning now with the growing number of satellites that are getting launched in the past years. Therefore, this will make the space even more crowded.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), around one million pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters are in Earth's orbit.
A researcher from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Toru Yamamoto, envisions using a laser beam to get rid of the space debris, according to Phys Org. The laser beam will vaporize them and will create a pulse of energy that will push the object into a new orbit.
With the irradiating laser, there will be no need to touch any debris. On that note, space debris can move about 7.5 kilometers per second, which is much faster than a bullet.
Currently, the project is experimental, but they hope to test the idea in space by the spring of 2025.
Also Read: High-Speed Space Junk To Reach Moon's Far Side This March - Creating 66-Foot Hole Upon Impact
More Projects Underway
There are a lot of agencies that are working on projects to solve the space junk issue. Some of them are Japanese, Europe, and US firms, which are all leading the way in developing solutions.
A tow-truck idea is also further along now. The idea behind this is that it will use a magnet to collect satellites that are no longer in use. Last year, the firm, Astroscale, was able to carry out a successful trial. The firm has plans to do a second test by the end of 2024 and hopes to launch its service soon after.
Some other efforts are trying to create satellites that don't produce debris. Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry envisage a wooden satellite that will go into orbit in a rocket and burn up safely when it goes back to the Earth. This project is still in its early stages.
Earlier this year, pieces of wood were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to test how the material responds to cosmic rays.
Satellite Debris Challenges
There are still challenges, though. Many of the firms have yet to create a scalable model that could be used to remove junk from space. It is going to take a lot of time, research, and money to come up with a model that works.
The last thing that they want is to create more debris that would be in the way of other satellites.
For now, scientists are still trying to get a grasp on how they can best tackle the space clutter. Some of the agencies are also looking at using systems that are already in place. It might take a long time before we can get to a solution. Until then, the world will have to keep an eye on the growing space debris that floats in space.
Related Article: Japan Launches Magnetic Tether To Clean Up Space Junk
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Written by April Fowell
