For nearly 70 years, the launch of artificial satellites has opened up endless possibilities for human exploration, however, as the number of machines in space continues to increase, astronomers have become concerned that light pollution could affect ground-based telescopes to study other galaxies. At the same time, the rapid growth of space junk has raised concerns about the potential impact on the sky, the ozone layer and the Earth's climate.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research has found that the space race is altering the stratosphere in measurable ways, and that the metal composition from rocket or satellite debris is making up 10% of particles in the atmosphere. In the coming decades, man-made debris is expected to account for 50% of stratospheric aerosols and half of the naturally occurring amount in the Milky Way.
While uncertainty exists about the impact of space debris on the ozone layer and the climate system, the addition of new fossil fuel emissions with each launch and debris from aging satellites de-orbiting make the problem even more acute.
There are already more than 8,300 satellites in low-Earth orbit, and the number of satellites planned to be launched is expected to reach hundreds of thousands by 2030. This situation raises the question of the urgency of space debris, making space sustainability and debris disposal a focus of the scientific community.
Ron Lopez, president of Astroscale, said that over the past decade, the issue of space debris has gone from a frenzied talk to a challenge that cannot be ignored. He described Astroscale's efforts in the field of orbital debris removal, including the use of satellites with strong magnets to capture moving targets, and the prospects for the development of flying garbage trucks, orbital centers, and the "circular economy in space".
Recently, Rocket Lab launched an AstroScale mission from New Zealand to observe rocket debris in low-Earth orbit and study how to get it out of orbit. In addition, this summer, scientists from Japan and NASA will launch the world's first biodegradable satellite, made primarily of wood, taking a small step towards sustainability in space.
The pitfalls of space exploration are becoming apparent, and action must be taken to ensure that our space exploration does not have irreversible consequences for Earth and future exploration.