By 
August 11th, 2021
Clutter in the cosmos.
Credit: Used with permission: Melrae Pictures/Space Junk 3D
A new report flags the fact that collision risk in low Earth orbit is on the rise. Moreover, addressing this risk is of paramount importance and is becoming increasingly urgent.
The report — Collision Risk from Space Debris – Current Status, Challenges and Response Strategies has been issued by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne’s (EPFL) International Risk Governance Center.
Orbital debris hit.
Credit: NASA
Tipping point passed?
“Collisions between large derelict objects cannot currently be avoided. Such collisions can result in a large number of smaller fragments, significantly increasing the subsequent collision risk for operational spacecraft,” the report states. “The long-term danger is a cascade of collisions, threatening the safety of future space operations.”
In addition, modeling of the space debris environment has shown that “the tipping point for this cascading effect might already have been reached in some orbital regions.”
A solution to pollution – netting a derelict satellite?
Credit: ESA
Collision risk landscape
The report chapters discuss the space ecosystem and its evolution; the collision risk landscape; the current strategy for managing collision risk; and offer a number of options for reinforcing the current management strategy and introduce novel approaches.
This excellent report draws attention to some of the major challenges ahead.
“Much of the discussion regarding space safety is concerned with coordinating and managing increasing levels of space traffic,” the report explains. “Although increased efforts are required in this area, the risk profile of an operating spacecraft is dominated by lethal non-trackable objects which cannot be dodged.”
For the full report, go to:
https://www.epfl.ch/research/domains/irgc/specific-risk-domains/space-debris/
For another view of the space clutter issue, go to this editorial in Nature —
“The world must cooperate to avoid a catastrophic space collision” — at:
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