A promising project aims to draw attention to the alarming issue of space debris posing significant risks to space activities.
Called "Space Trash Signs," the project was launched by several groups, including Privateer, a leading space sustainability company; German design agency Moby Digg; visual artist Frank Gräfe; and communication agency Serviceplan Innovation.
Plotting Constellations with Space Junk
The primary objective of Space Trash Signs is to spotlight the mounting problem of space debris by identifying new "star signs" composed of defunct satellites and discarded rocket parts.
These new constellations, meticulously crafted based on actual space debris tracking data collected by Privateer, seek to raise awareness and provoke discussions on the pressing need for action to preserve order in Earth's orbital environment, Space.com reports.
Launched ahead of a crucial June meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Space Trash Signs offers an interesting approach to engaging the public with the realities of Earth's space debris problem.
Anyone can explore these space trash constellations on a dedicated website, various stargazing apps, and through special programs showcased in planetariums worldwide.
Earth's Serious Space Debris Problem
Staggering statistics stress the urgency of addressing the space debris crisis. Since the first time men ventured into space in 1957, approximately 6,500 rocket launches have placed over 16,990 satellites into Earth's orbit (via ESA).
Astonishingly, only about 9,000 of these are still operational, leaving a substantial portion defunct and contributing to the burgeoning space debris population. This makes low Earth orbit (LEO), where most space junk end up, the world's largest space dump.
Space debris, comprising materials ranging from discarded rocket stages to tiny paint chips, poses grave threats to space-based services, explorations, and operations. Moving at speeds of up to 18,000 miles per hour, NASA tells us that these objects jeopardize the safety of space assets and terrestrial infrastructure.
Over 35,150 debris objects are regularly tracked by Space Surveillance Networks, further worsening concerns about collision risks and orbital congestion. Moreover, the frequency of break-ups, explosions, collisions, and other events continues to escalate, with over 640 incidents recorded.
TOPSHOT - This computer-generated image released by the European Space Agency (ESA) on April 15, 2008 shows trackable objects in orbit around Earth. There are now more than 12 000 objects that are monitored in orbit, 11 500 pieces of which are in low Earth orbit, which is at an altitude of between 800 and 1500 kilometres (500 and 950 miles), where there are many commercial, military, scientific and navigational satellites. In low orbit, debris can stay adrift for decades before they eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Another 1,147 pieces are in geostationary orbit, about satellite orbits in the direction of the Earth's rotation, at an altitude of approximately 35,786 km (22,240 miles), where telecommunications satellites are typically deployed. Photo by ESA/AFP via Getty Images
Space Trash Signs Constellations
The Space Trash Signs project's thought-provoking constellations highlight the dire consequences of neglecting the space debris issue.
For instance, "The Broken Compass," observed above Bermuda in January 2023, symbolizes the potential damage to global positioning and navigational satellites, such as the U.S. GPS and European Galileo systems, in the event of a collision. The constellation says such an event could impact more than 6 billion people relying on these services.
Similarly, "The Great 404," captured above West Africa in February 2023, signifies the ramifications of internet-beaming satellite destruction, impacting connectivity for isolated communities worldwide.
