With the advancement of technology, satellites have literally surrounded our planet. Now the Earth continues to move in its orbit with its artificial satellites. New states are joining the space race day by day. However, this brings with it a dangerous problem: space junk. Recently, scientists found a permanent solution to this space debris problem that threatens our planet. Here are the details…
Gas stations in space could make cleaning up space debris easier!
Gas stations in space could be the answer to our ongoing space debris problem. It could at least allow satellites to refuel. So the satellites can continue to operate. In this way, gas stations in space will help reduce the amount of space debris entering our planet’s orbit.
So how exactly can a gas station orbiting our planet help? More than 15,000 satellites have been placed in orbit since the 1950s. However, just over half of these satellites are still operational. The rest either burned up on reentry or were abandoned to their fate in Earth orbit. In addition, the satellites that have fulfilled this mission have created debris around our planet that other spacecraft must avoid.
If there is a gas station in space, it can refuel satellites that run out of fuel. In this way, we can use the satellites for a much longer time, instead of letting them shut down and turning them into stray garbage.
What’s more, by placing refueling sites in space, we can capture debris and send it back to Earth, where it burns up in the atmosphere. We can also clean up real space junk with spacecraft designed to be disposed of in other ways. In this way, the old planet can get rid of the burdens and garbage from its environment.
Space agencies are working to best develop the refueling station. In addition, work continues to figure out how the logistics of everything will work.
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