Researchers from Southampton have developed the world’s first robust method for estimating the value and mass of this space junk.
A fully circular economy in space – removing and reusing or recycling space debris – is a viable possibility for securing the future of satellites and space exploration, according to new research from the University of Southampton.
The study estimates that billions, possibly trillions, of dollars worth of recyclable materials exist in the form of space junk (mission debris and defunct satellites) orbiting Earth. Knowing “what’s out there” enables us to effectively and justly pursue viable solutions to our growing problems.
Space junk is the type of pollution that threatens future space exploration and satellites on which we rely heavily on Earth.
As of January 2021, the US Space Surveillance Network has reported 21,901 man-made objects in orbit around the Earth, including about 4,500 functioning satellites. But these are just objects big enough to track. It is also estimated that there are more than 128 million pieces less than 1 cm, more than 900,000 pieces between 1 cm and 10 cm, and more than 34,000 pieces larger than 10 cm.
Ian Williams, Professor of Applied Environmental Science, and Ryan Leonard, an MSc in Applied GIS and Remote Sensing, have developed a method to estimate the value and mass of orbital debris, providing a circular economy case study.
“If the economic value of retrieving space debris is high enough, the investment in technology to do so is justified,” said Professor Williams.
Through their research, Professor Williams and Ryan calculated that space junk recycling could have a net value of between $570 billion and $1.2 trillion. Active Debris Removal (ADR), such as Plasma and his thrusters, invented by Dr. Minkwan Kim at the University of Southampton, are designed to safely deorbit a satellite at the end of its life.
Professor Williams adds: However, this could make future circular economies of space financially viable, with beneficial consequences for risk reduction. resource efficiency; value-added jobs; climate change knowledge, science, monitoring and early warning data. ”
Original: A circular economy that tackles space junk
Than: University of Southampton
