Space Debris? It is a big problem?

2014-11-01T19:28:27-04:00

We often hear of the damage done by space debris as it re-enters our atmosphere and causing in some cases, massive damage. But there is more to it than that. We also have a lot of space crafts floating around our world. And this is mainly satellites.

October 19, 2014 a comet nearly struck four space craft as they are geosynchronously moving about our planet. Those are Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN and India's MOM. Fortunately the near hit causes for alarm, especially consideration the importance of these satellites to our commerce, safety and weather systems.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 1 at 2014 7:44 PM

2014-11-01T19:44:41-04:00

Even objects that do not reenter our atmosphere pose a great threat to satellites and space craft. the speed and velocity of even say a loose bolt can be fatal to both people and material. We would need to find a way to reduce the speed of debris and objects that no longer function in a way that would be safe yet wouldn't produce even smaller objects. So far we've been lucky that we have not had any fatalities yet, but there will be a first time and it will be gruesome.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Nov 1 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-11-01T19:51:37-04:00

Could we vote on sending a few politicians up there???? lol

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 1 at 2014 9:46 PM

2014-11-01T21:46:35-04:00

Well, this week, we had one big piece that didn't make it up there to become debris. Tragically we also lost a pioneer pilot & craft in commercial space transportation. The space station is pretty big and if it goes the way of Skylab sometime in the future, they're going to have to figure out how to break it up well before its orbit decays.