Japan is preparing to roll up its sleeves alone to solve a problem that is actually the problem of the whole world and that we need to solve together. As you know, we have been sending satellites or similar spacecraft to Earth’s orbit for 64 years.
As you know, rockets carrying space vehicles such as these satellites or planetary explorers travel the route they need to go, leaving modules behind. Or obsolete spacecraft now floating dead in space. All this dysfunctional gadgetry in space is called ‘space junk’.
Japan plans to clean up space junk with laser
These space junks need to be cleaned so that they do not damage the Earth by falling in some way or prevent future space tourism. There have actually been studies on this subject before, but this time Japan is really rolling up its sleeves.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), there are about 1 million pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters in Earth’s orbit. Toru Yamamoto, a researcher with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), announced in an interview that they plan to use a laser beam to get rid of space debris.
Space researchers plan to create an energy pulse through the laser beam that will vaporize space junk and push the object into a new orbit. Thanks to the laser beam, there will be no need for a person to actually touch any debris.
Space junks can travel about 7.5 kilometers per second, which is much faster than a bullet and must be cleaned. Currently, Japan’s project is in an experimental position, but they hope to test the idea in space by the spring of 2025. What are you thinking? Please do not forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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