Dealing With Space Debris

A study by DARPA, the Defense Department agency that focuses on developing advanced technology, says that while space debris is not a critical problem now, it could become one over the next few decades. The study suggests a first step in dealing with the problem would be for spacefaring nations to adopt technology and approaches that would not add to the debris currently in orbit. Beyond that, the study says removing debris is important, and developing technology to do that should begin now.

Exactly what technology would be necessary is not clear. A suite of technologies may be required because the sizes of individual pieces of debris range from, say, large dead satellites down to flakes of paint. Even those flakes can act as bullets because they are traveling at 17,000 miles an hour.

Removing space debris would seem a task suited to the private sector. Governments could pay companies to de-orbit specific pieces or more general classes of objects. That would provide an essential service while also giving an emerging space industry an additional revenue stream.