Switzerland to Launch 'Janitor' Satellite to Collect Pieces of Space Junk

[Vitalux]

Ever since I was a young child my parents taught me I need to keep both my bedroom and our backyard. It is nice to see that the space agency is taking measures to clean it's own back yard :cheer2:


Space junk is an ongoing problem for the world’s space administrations as decades worth of satellite launches and space missions have filled the Earth’s orbit with trash such as fuel tanks, lost tools and parts of derelict satellites.

In order to combat this growing hazard and to avoid potentially devastating collisions, the Swiss Space Center has announced CleanSpace One, a project to develop and build the first installment of satellites designed specifically to clean up space debris.

(READ the full story from Inhabitat (http://inhabitat.com/cleanspace-one-to-clear-the-planets-orbit-of-370000-pieces-of-hazardous-space-junk/))

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/science/space_janitor_cleans_up_orbit.jpg

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/09/CleanSpace-One-grabbing-junk.jpg



http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/09/CleanSpace-One-Infographic-e1380026328805.jpg

[norman]

Not sure why Switzerland is the key but if it is, that's almost like an apology.

[ThePythonicCow]

In order to combat this growing hazard and to avoid potentially devastating collisions, the Swiss Space Center has announced CleanSpace One, a project to develop and build the first installment of satellites designed specifically to clean up space debris.
From the article (http://inhabitat.com/cleanspace-one-to-clear-the-planets-orbit-of-370000-pieces-of-hazardous-space-junk/):




Of the thousands of pieces of space junk in orbit, NASA is monitoring at least 16,000 of these objects that are larger than 10 cm in diameter.

So ... does that mean they plan to send up 16,000 of these to earth orbit, one for each piece of junk?

That is a lot of rocket launches :)

[Vitalux]

So ... does that mean they plan to send up 16,000 of these to earth orbit, one for each piece of junk?

That is a lot of rocket launches :)

Well....lets just say it is a start in the right direction. After all, a very large mountain can be moved one pebble at a time.

My guess is that they might even make some so they can retrieve several pieces of space junk.
I was just amazed how quickly we see technology coming along, and it thrills me to be alive here to see it.

after all, I once recall when recycle was not yet in practice.

I posted a similar article (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?63978-Ingenious-19-year-old-Develops-Plan-to-Clean-up-Oceans-in-5-Years-...a-must-see----&p=738721#post738721)yesterday about how one young man was proposing an idea of how to clean plastic out of our oceans.

another inspiring though for humanity and our future :bounce:

[ThePythonicCow]

Well....lets just say it is a start in the right direction. After all, a very large mountain can be moved one pebble at a time.
But sending in a dump truck for that one pebble, and having the dump truck dispose of the pebble by driving off a high cliff into the ocean, is slightly inefficient :).

I guess if I were assigned this task, I'd want to orbit some sort of directed energy weapon (assuming that there is not already some in orbit), powered by some sort of "free energy" gizmo so that its "batteries would not run down", and have it blast the junk into space dust.

[Ivanhoe]

I always thought it would have been a good idea for the shuttles to grab space junk and return it to earth to recycle the precious metals like gold and platinum and any other exotic material (nuclear components).
Wait, damn, that would make too much sense. LOL

[Vitalux]

I guess if I were assigned this task, I'd want to orbit some sort of directed energy weapon (assuming that there is not already some in orbit), powered by some sort of "free energy" gizmo so that its "batteries would not run down", and have it blast the junk into space dust.

Interesting thought....... and quite thought provoking.

My guess, ....just total speculation......is there is a reason why common man does not possess such use of powerful energy.
Perhaps the reason why we find ourselves here, is to appreciate what we already posses, rather than chase things we think we desire.

I know if I was a friendly alien :alien:, and I looked down on planet Earth and saw this

http://blacklemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/violence.jpg


I would not be too quick to give them the keys to stronger fire.

After all look what mess we got ourselves into when prometheus gave fire to Man?


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbgvogxMkGzgba_c-Nza2dqH6f6sfWA_MpUyRTRIUCBgbRQCnjbg