NASA and the EE. UU. se Congress have joined the chorus calling for action in the face of the risk of debris in the area.
Large constellations of satellites being assembled through corporations like SpaceX, as well as a Russian anti-satellite check (ASAT) in November 2021 that threatened International Space Station operations, are likely fueling those discussions, due to considerations about debris from the area affecting access. and the use of Earth orbit.
As more and more satellites rise, so does the threat of collisions, which can generate giant clouds of debris, as Russia’s ASAT test did. Prognosis, Mavens said.
Related: Space debris from Russian anti-satellite missile test detected in telescope images and videos
In Congress, a bipartisan bill introduced Sept. 13 aims to solve the space debris challenge. The Orbital Sustainability Act (ORBITS) (opens in new tab) is led by U. S. Senator S. U. S. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash. ), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
“This bill will drive the technological progression needed to remove as much harmful debris as possible before it destroys a satellite, crashes into a NASA mission, or falls to the ground and injures someone,” Cantwell said in a report on the law (opens in a new tab), which is in the early stages of discussion. If passed, the bill would focus on the progression and demonstration of debris removal technologies and seek to create a market for those services.
Meanwhile, NASA announced on September thirteen that it had funded 3 projects (opens in a new tab) aimed at orbital debris management. The projects are also at an early stage, but seek to quantify the economic and social disruptions related to space debris. .
“Maintaining our ability to use the area is critical to our economy, national security, and our nation’s science and generation enterprise,” Bhavya Lal, associate administrator for NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy, said in a statement. “These awards will fund studies to help us understand the dynamics of the orbital environment and show how we can expand policies to restrict waste generation and mitigate the impact of existing debris. “
The 3 are:
The new efforts by Congress and NASA follow an August announcement by the U. S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The U. S. government promised a new regulatory framework for orbital debris focused on the hazards and opportunities of the assembly and production area (ISAM). The last FCC primary update on area trash before that was just two years ago.
And in September, Vice President Kamala Harris said the U. S. The U. S. government would urge other countries to abandon destructive anti-satellite testing, in part because of space debris considerations. She raised the issue while chairing a National Space Council assembly in mid-September, following a commitment through April Biden’s management to conduct destructive anti-satellite missile tests in the area.
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Elizabeth Howell, Ph. D. , has been the air chain’s staff editor since 2022. He contributed to the writing of Space. com (opens new window) for 10 years, since 2012. As a proud trekkie and Canadian, she also tackles topics such as diversity, science fiction, astronomy, and games to help others explore the universe. Reports on Elizabeth’s site include two manned spaceflight launches from Kazakhstan, 3 round-trip projects to Florida, and built-in reports of a simulated Mars. He holds a Ph. D. and M. Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Canada. Elizabeth has also been a postsecondary science and communication instructor since 2015. His most recent book, NASA Leadership Moments, is co-authored with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth first became interested in the area after seeing the movie Apollo Thirteen in 1996, and still needs to be an astronaut someday.
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