Space Station, Shuttle move to avoid bad driver

William Atkins
Monday, 23 March 2009 18:21

Science - Space

Additional information about this space junk incident involving the ISS and the STS-119 mission is found at the Space.com article “Space Station Dodges More Debris.”

According to Space.com, space station commander Michael Fincke commented, "There's a lot of debris out there…. We need to be able to truly have a way to dispose of our satellites when we're finished with them."

Check out these websites for ideas that have been suggested as solutions to space debris in orbit about the Earth:

SpaceDaily.com (August 16, 2000): “NASA Hopes Laser Broom Will Help Clean Up Space Debris”

Space.com (November 17, 2004): “The Terminator Tether Aims to Clean Up Low Earth Orbit”

European Space Agency (ESA) (April 15, 2005): "Space debris mitigation: the case for a code of conduct"

The ESA article states a question from space debris expert Ruediger Jehn, and a unique suggestion that anyone can do: "... how can the average person become involved"

Dr. Jehn's answer, "Call your space agency ... tell them: 'My kids want to travel in space in 30 years and I don't want you guys spoiling it'. Pressure from the public could help. Once space is polluted it's too late and I wouldn't dare go up there."