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Experts meet to discuss space debris

VERONIKA OLEKSYN

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 12:18 PM EST 24/02/09

Some are suggesting a cosmic cleanup. Others say time, energy and funds are better spent on minimizing likelihood of future crashes ...Read the full article

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  1. Alban Leurk from Ottawax, Canada writes: Well about space debris the sensor of teh NSIDC satellite is damaged and has been sending faulty data for over one month... Alanp. Burke will surely retract his inflammatory comments based on that faulty data -underestimating the sea ice extent- or will he just blame it on big oil?
  2. Akbar M from Regina, Canada writes: Even with millions of objects out there it's virtually empty. There are 6 billion humans on earth and that's just on the land part. Think of the area of the earth and you have an idea of how much space there is up there. Not that crazily careening objects at 50,000 km/hr isn't dangerous but there is a lot of space in space.
  3. aging oldtool from Canada writes: "There is a lot of space in space," offers Akbar. M of Regina.

    Yes there is Akbar, but the junk we speak of in this aticle is confined to only a tiny part of space, which just happens to be where earthlings are currently locating satillites and sending space missions to.

    What I'm reading from this article is the classic unwillingness of nations, largely those responsible for this garbage, to actually do anything about it.

    The reality is these Pigs in Space nations will do nothing until they begin to lose human beings, just as we saw on earth before the dinosaurs relented and began putting seatbelt in their oh, so safe automobiles.

    It isn't encouraging and I'll bet those promoting the much heralded space tourism idea are learning that life insurance premiums for such ventures are now out of this world.

    Just as well, visiting a garbage dump without even a mangy black bear to watch is hardly memorable.
  4. Barry Freeman from Eagle Hill, Canada writes: Yes, "There is a lot of space in space," but like people on earth (the "6 billion humans on earth") who prefer to live in certain places, and dislike others (count the number of people per square Km in the Antarctic), countries prefer to put their junk in particular orbits.

    Visualize the number of people who all try to get on the London Underground at rush hour. Add to that a vast number of tourists that don't know where they're going or how to use the system. Now visualize how many bump into each other.
  5. K McIntyre from Oshawa, Canada writes: That picture looks a lot like a shot from the opening scene from Disney/Pixar's WALL-E.
  6. Mean Machine from Bugtussle, Canada writes: Most of that stuff was crap before it left earth.
  7. Brian Klappstein from GRANDE CACHE, Canada writes: Akbars right. Space is still empty. The so-called accidental collision was in fact not. The Russian are just trying some things out and it looks like their test was a success.

    Regards, BRK
  8. Northern Parrothead from The Wild West, Canada writes: The Americans are developing a space-laser anyway - why not just let them use the junk for target practice from above? Even if it does not destroy the stuff, it may break it up or at least transfer the momentum of the photons into a downward push on the stuff - then it can burn up in the atmosphere.
  9. Iain's Opinion from Canada writes: Space is huge, but useful flightpaths/orbits are limited. The junk is in these fp/o's, kinda like a highway through siberia. Not many ways to get there from here.
  10. harry carnie from Northern, B.C, Canada writes: Oh.....well as long as the Star Choice`s satellite
    maintains our T.V....
    I could live without the internet part. (broadband feed through the Star Choice satellite)

    What concerns me is the HUGE mass of plastic crap
    floating, in the ocean North West of Hawaii.

    Space POLLUTION has very little chance of killing us..............POLLUTION HERE ON EARTH HAS.
  11. Li Chi Ho from Saskatoon, Canada writes: So 1-800-GOT-JUNK has an opportunity to open a space division. I'd invest in that!

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