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Laura Helmuth

Derelict satellites pass within 1,000 kilometers of each other 1,000 times a year, and any collision would instantly double the amount of space debris. A space rush is filling up orbit with unregulated satellites, mostly from private companies, and we need better protections scientificamerican.com/article

Scientific AmericanThere Is Too Much Trash in SpaceDebris from spacecraft threatens the burgeoning space economy. We need a global agreement to keep space clean

@laurahelmuth as is usually the case, actions will only take place after a very public, very expensive loss of space asset by a piece of space debris.

@laurahelmuth is "within 1000 km" considered collision range for satellites? That seems like a huge distance apart...

@Amoshias @laurahelmuth
We keep adding them, so it's bound to get closer and closer, plus I guess debris if a collision occur one way or another don't really have a chosen orbit and may get closer

@laurahelmuth

"humans, galactic rednecks" - the reason intelligent aliens keep their distance

@laurahelmuth I think what's missing is a mandatory bond that'll pay for the recovery of all objects shot into orbit...

@laurahelmuth That is what undeserved billionaires do: Make trash everywhere. Solve your billionaire problem and your space trash problem is solved.

@laurahelmuth And history of mines and oil wells show at some point these private companies will just declare bankrupcy and abandon their fleets up there, leaving tax payers across the world to deal with them.

@laurahelmuth six more companies like Starlink are planning on releasing a pile of satellites? And Musk even more? soooo... We get to witness the destruction of near Earth orbit by capitalism in real time?

@laurahelmuth
A decent amount of that Space Debris cloud is Musk's gawdawful micro-satellites. 😞

@aral @laurahelmuth @toxi

at least we'll cordon ourselves off from the possibility of infecting the rest of the galaxy with it as well

@laurahelmuth here's my interview with @sundogplanets about Starlink and the possibility of Kessler Syndrome: wfmu.org/playlists/shows/136860
(click Pop-up player - interview starts at 6:56)

This and more Techtonic interviews at techtonic.fm

WFMUAstronomer Sam Lawler on the danger of Starlink satellites: Techtonic with Mark HurstAudio & playlist from February 12, 2024