SPACE POLLUTION: MAJOR THREAT TO EARTH

We know about the fact that the things which goes up in outer space never comes down. But now, the fact is whatever goes in outer space may come down.

Did you know that the world outside our Planet is also getting polluted???

Yes, it is so.the junk present in space is considered as SPACE JUNK or SPACE DEBRIS.Spent rockets ,old satellites, fragments from erosion, and collisions contributes to space junk. The waste also consists of lost devices or equipments of astronauts. Since in the last 50 years many satellites have been launched, but only 1000 of them functional at present and when the junk present collides with functional satellites, the parts of satellites break into fragments thereby increasing the quantity of junk present. It happens as the speed of the junk is estimated as 11km/hr. we can't imagine world without satellite because We are dependent on the satellite communication (banking, mobile communication, Internet and treatment) and space junk is a biggest threat for it.

Major Collisions:

• In 1969, five sailors on a Japanese ship were injured by space debris, of Russian origin.

• The first major collision was on 10 February 2009.The deactivated 950 kg Kosmos 2251 and an operational 560 kg IRIDIUM 33 collided over northern Siberia resulting into huge risk to spacecraft.

• On 22 January 2013, a Russian laser-ranging satellite was hit by a piece of debris suspected to be from the Chinese ASAT test of 2007 in this case both the orbit and the spin rate where changed.

Techniques to avoid collision:

The techniques suggested to avoid harm are that space stations should be asked to DEACTIVATE the non-functional satellites before launching the other one. LASER BROOM, the another method which produces a rocket-like thrust,slows the object. Although most debris will burn up in the atmosphere, larger objects can reach the ground intact and present a risk.