SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -The international space station (ISS) has to regularly adjust its position to avoid space debris. One way to get rid of this orbital refuse is to send space vehicles to capture and ‘de-orbit’ the junk, using tools such as a net, harpoon or robotic arm.

Detailed explanation-2: -All space junk is the result of us launching objects from Earth, and it remains in orbit until it re-enters the atmosphere. Some objects in lower orbits of a few hundred kilometres can return quickly.

Detailed explanation-3: -The ELSA-d test launch is made up of two different devices. One, the servicer satellite, is designed to capture a piece of space junk. The second will serve as a client satellite that will act like space junk. The downside of the ELSA design is that it can’t dock with just any piece of floating space junk in orbit.

Detailed explanation-4: -Small debris can damage critical components like solar panels, which can also shorten a satellite’s lifetime. Some satellites can move to avoid a collision, but moving a satellite uses valuable propellant and can shorten a satellite mission. All in all, space debris adds to the cost of operating in space.

Detailed explanation-5: -Options for active removal include nudging objects into the atmosphere, or pushing them to less congested orbits, also known as graveyard orbits, where they aren’t such a collision risk – a choice of down or up.

Detailed explanation-6: -Space debris began to accumulate in Earth orbit immediately with the first launch of an artificial satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit in October 1957. But even before that humans might have produced ejecta that became space debris, as in the August 1957 Pascal B test.