Capgemini Engineering’s Post

Are we running out of space in space? In our relentless pursuit of exploring the cosmos, space debris has emerged as a formidable challenge that demands immediate attention and concerted action. Space debris, often referred to as "space junk," encompasses a diverse array of objects orbiting Earth with no purpose. These objects vary in size, ranging from minuscule particles to defunct satellites and rocket fragments. The surge in space missions and commercialization has amplified the volume of space debris, making it an urgent concern. This is boldly underscored by recent incidents, the damage to the return capsule of NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Russian cosmonauts during ISS docking in March this year, along with numerous other alarming events. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently levied a historic $150,000 fine against a company that neglected space debris management policies and failed to relocate its outdated satellites, bringing the urgent need to address the space debris problem into sharp focus. In the endeavour to combat the escalating challenge of space debris, an array of innovative methods has emerged over the past few decades. These methods encompass nets and harpoons, robotic arms, tethers, sails, active debris removal satellites, gravitational tractors, drag enhancement devices etc. Each of these technologies plays a pivotal role in the ongoing mission to safeguard our orbital environment. However, despite the availability of these methods, the mission concerning space debris removal is critically affected. In a recent incident, a space debris removal mission faced a devastating setback when their targeted debris was unexpectedly struck by a small, high-velocity fragment, resulting in the generation of more debris and a perilous alteration of the orbital state and the mission. The escalating challenges posed by space debris emphasize the critical imperative for the development of more efficient and effective methods and technologies in its mitigation. With humanity's ambitious missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond on the horizon, the safety of astronauts and spacecraft takes centre stage. The adoption of sustainable space practices, meticulous debris tracking, and global cooperation are not just essential but defining factors for a secure and prosperous future in space. #sustainability #spaceexploration #spacetechnology #spacedebris #spaceeconomy #space #spacesustainability #ukspaceagency #websummit2023 #spacenews #eretsd #eretsconstellation #spaceengineering

Space Debris Showdown: Space Debris Threatens the Future of Spaceflight (and the ISS) 🛰 ... Space junk hurtling around Earth at 17,500 mph – sounds like a scene from a disaster movie, right? Well, it's not fiction. Space debris – everything from spent rocket parts to rogue paint chips – is a growing threat to the International Space Station (ISS) and future space missions. This infographic by European Space Agency - ESA dives deep into the dangers of this high-flying hazard and the ISS's impressive defense systems. But why is there so much junk up there, and what can we do to clean it up? Everything from rockets to missing marbles: * Launches galore: The space industry is booming, with more and more rockets blasting off. Each launch leaves behind a trail of debris. * Kaboom! Collisions between spacecraft or debris can create a cascading effect, shattering objects into even more shrapnel. * Sticky Situation: Microgravity makes debris hang around in orbit for centuries, creating a cosmic junkyard. So, how do we dodge this space debris disaster? * Cleaning Crews: Ideas like space janitorial robots or giant nets are being explored to capture and de-orbit debris. * Design for Demise: Satellites that self-destruct upon reaching mission end could significantly reduce future clutter. * Traffic Control: International regulations and better tracking systems could prevent collisions and minimize debris creation. The future of space exploration hinges on a clean and sustainable environment. What are your ideas for tackling the space debris challenge? [Infographic (c) by ESA, European Space Agency] #Space #SpaceDebris #ISS #SpaceFlight #Aerospace

I recently spoke with The National about Astroscale's recent mission to investigate space junk and the importance of prevention alongside clean-up to combat the problem of orbital debris. Read more on this mission and my thoughts in the article below. Level ⬆️! https://lnkd.in/eQi75iyB

Hi Space Environmentalists & Enthusiasts, here is an interview I had with Alyssa Lafleur from Resonance about space debris and various elements of the emerging space industry. Hope you enjoy. Best, Erik

CLASP researchers may be able to detect debris floating in space with a new approach. These small objects, known as ‘Space Junk’ can quickly turn from harmless pieces of trash to hazardous cannonballs. “We want to know if an object is hard or soft because that will impact how it orbits and how damaging it can be.” Learn more about CLASP researchers approach to locating space junk [article] https://bit.ly/416NpPG

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁"❗ ⚠️ "It's the equivalency of looking at traffic jams on the interstate highways," O'Keefe said, adding that 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁, 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻. "Everything's still traveling at 17,500 miles an hour whether you like it or not." 👉 Check out this opinion piece, highlighting the 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 at International level! Mitigating debris 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 is key to the 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. #Futureofspace #Innovation #SSA #SpaceTech #Newspace

#IndustryNews: In the vast expanse of the cosmos, a hidden menace orbits silently above us – space debris. As humanity’s footprint in space grows, so does the clutter we leave behind. The issue of space debris has evolved into a critical challenge, prompting countries like the #UK to embark on groundbreaking initiatives for space debris removal... 🚀 Read the full article >>> https://lnkd.in/eP8nVsUK #spacedebris #spacesustainability #ukspace #spacedebrisremoval

Ever wondered what will happen to all the space debris in our orbits? ClearSpace, a Swiss start-up, has come up with a solution! 🚀   Numerous tons of space junk have been circling our orbits since the beginning of the space age. This is hardly surprising considering that hundreds of satellites and rockets have been launched into the furthest regions of space. But what actually happens to the rubbish we leave behind in the long term?   The Swiss start-up ClearSpace has been investigating this question since it was founded in 2018 by engineer Luc Piguet as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne). The result is a small spaceship designed to dispose of space debris in the long term. A maiden mission is planned for the coming years.   Check out their spaceship designed to clean up space in the long term! 👇 https://lnkd.in/dsCTzHpk   Picture: ClearSpace ©   digitalswitzerland, European Space Agency - ESA, Innosuisse, Presence Switzerland, Swissnex, swisstech, Switzerland Global Enterprise   #clearspacetoday #digitalswitzerland #epfl #esa #innosuisse #planets #presenceswitzerland #schweiz #science #sge #space #suisse #svizzera #swissnex #swisstech #switzerland

Our #planet is surrounded by #spacecraft carrying out important work to study our changing climate, deliver global #communication and #navigation services and help us answer important scientific questions. But some of their orbits are getting crowded and increasingly churning with deadly, fast-moving pieces of defunct #satellites and #rockets that threaten our #future in #space. Since 2016, ESA’s Space Debris Office has published an annual Space Environment Report to provide a transparent overview of global space activities and determine how well these and other international debris-reduction measures are improving the long-term #sustainability of #spaceflight. The 2023 Space Environment Report is now available. #ESA #spacedebris #cleanspace https://lnkd.in/eZj9MgDb

🌌 Addressing The Challenge Of Space Debris: An Interview With Erik T. Long, Co-Founder and CEO of Orbotic Systems Inc... Key Highlights: 🔹 Growing Threat: The accumulation of space debris poses a significant risk to satellites and human spaceflight, intensified by the rapid increase in satellite launches. 🔹 Response: The FCC has introduced a "5-year rule" mandating that satellites be deorbited within five years, tightening previous 25-year guidelines to enforce more sustainable space practices. 🔹 Innovative Technology: Orbotic Systems' D3 device employs passive deorbiting technology, allowing spacecraft to adjust their orbits without fuel, ensuring compliance with new regulations and enhancing space traffic management. 🔹 Collaborative Efforts: The complex challenges of space debris are fostering collaboration across the industry, with a shift towards a more integrated and cooperative approach in space technology. Read more 👇 As we look towards a future where space remains accessible and safe, how do you see these innovations and regulations shaping the dynamics of space operations? https://lnkd.in/g45_gjSc #SpaceDebris #Sustainability #Innovation #SpaceTech #OrboticSystems