It will now be possible to observe the space debris that threatens satellites in broad daylight. This new method, detailed in a study published this Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications , could facilitate space monitoring.
Nearly 9,000 satellites and 23,000 objects larger than 10cm have been sent into space since 1957, and currently revolve around the Earth at over 20,000 km / h. At this speed, any collision can destroy the satellite and generate more waste. This debris comes from pieces of rockets and satellites destroyed on purpose (as China had done in 2007) or during accidental collisions.
First laser detection of #spacedebris in daylight
A new study, supported by ESA's #SpaceSafety Program and others @IWF_oeaw, has found it is possible to use 'laser ranging' to track space debris - in broad daylight
👉https: //t.co / w8Y7nwu7KJ pic.twitter.com/N4TyUfTHgk
Better observe to better clean
It is possible to detect and track this debris from earth stations, but only for a few hours at dusk, when the stations are in darkness and the debris still lit by the Sun.
But a team of researchers based in Austria succeeded in extending that window by combining a telescope, a detector and a filter increasing the contrast between objects and the sky. With this technique, it would be possible to monitor debris 22 hours a day, contributing "significantly to future space debris removal missions" according to Michael Steindorfer, co-author of the study.
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