In orbit on Friday, a collision of space debris with possibly catastrophic consequences apparently only just happened. This was determined by the US company Leo Labs, which maps low earth orbit for satellite operators. The calculations showed that a Soviet rocket stage and a discarded Russian satellite sped past each other at a distance of just 6 m – with an inaccuracy of a few dozen meters. At the same time, the near-collision occurred at an altitude of 984 km, a particularly unfavorable environment: If the objects had crashed into each other, thousands of pieces of debris would probably have been created that would have remained in orbit for decades, says Leo Labs.
Such a collision was determined in advance as a “worst-case scenario,” Leo Labs explained on Twitter. This is because at this altitude it is largely out of our control and would likely set off a chain reaction with catastrophic results. The point is that the countless debris that would be created would be likely to hit other satellites, which would result in more debris. In the worst case, they could practically empty the entire level. According to Leo Labs, it is also at risk because there are about 160 of these rocket stages underway and about the same number of payloads that were placed there decades ago.
According to the data from the US company, the two objects raced toward each other at a relative speed of about 11 kilometers per second (almost 40,000 km/h). Their near-collision once again highlights the growing danger of space debris. More and more debris from collisions and weapon tests that have already taken place, as well as rocket parts and discarded satellites, are racing around the earth at immense speeds. A single collision could have catastrophic consequences for all space travel. Space agencies, business and research institutions have recognized the problem and are increasingly looking for possible solutions and countermeasures.
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