Against debris in space, China’s new technology

Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology

Space – China just published a new concept of “pulling the sail” in order to reduce space waste, a new disaster for space conquest. The goal is to quickly remove debris remaining in orbit, because without help, it can take several decades to disappear; At that time, serious collisions could multiply.

The test phase of this “sail track” was carried out on July 4 and we can see it installed with a missile debris loading adapter weighing about 300 kg.

This 25-square-meter sail should lose its height in the next two years, thus allowing this rocket piece to be absorbed. By binding to missile debris, it increases the surface area of ​​the vehicle, which increases atmospheric friction and thus speeds up the device’s re-entry into the atmosphere. Reducing the time spent in orbit reduces the risk of collisions.

On June 24, China sent three satellites into orbit from the Xichang Center. The next day, I submitted as part of an additional mission, this landing sail from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST).

China’s new challenge

After successfully completing its first mission to clean up space junk at the beginning of the year, China is testing very promising “trails of sails”. During this first mission, the Chinese were the first to shoot down an ancient satellite that remained in orbit. The body was absorbed and disintegrated in the atmosphere. Until now, missions to “clean up” space waste consisted only of equipment testing.

L ‘European Space Agency He regrets the millions of waste that revolves around the Earth. This is equivalent to 9,600 tons moving at thousands of kilometers per hour. From afar, the Earth can resemble Saturn, As the above animation shows.

Barely 65 years ago, humans have been traveling into space and yet it already looks like a trash can. According to an estimate made by Satellite EncyclopediaChina is responsible for 24% of space waste behind Russia and the United States. Soon to beat space waste?

See also on The HuffPost: James Webb, a space telescope mapping the universe