The Escalating Threat of Space Debris to Orbital technology
The relentless pursuit of space exploration and the burgeoning utilization of orbital resources have, regrettably, led to a substantial accumulation of approximately 13,000 metric tons of discarded hardware encircling Earth.Inactive spacecraft and larger fragments of space junk are increasingly colliding, thereby compounding the issue by generating countless smaller particles. These minute yet perilous projectiles present a meaningful danger to operational satellites, which are indispensable for maintaining global connectivity, enabling precise navigation systems, and gathering essential climate data – services upon which contemporary human civilization is critically reliant. Peggy Hollinger, a correspondent for the Financial Times, is currently examining the cutting-edge technologies and proactive regulatory frameworks being formulated to confront and diminish this mounting predicament of space debris, ensuring the continued viability of our orbital infrastructure.
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