The United States government and private investors are collaborating to address the increasing threat posed by space debris. As the number of active satellites in orbit continues to rise, so does the amount of space debris, which poses a significant risk to space missions and infrastructure.
According to a report by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), there are currently more than 26,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 centimeters in orbit around the Earth, and over half a million smaller pieces that can still cause damage to satellites and spacecraft.
To mitigate the danger posed by space debris, the United States government is teaming up with private investors to develop and fund new technologies and approaches to tracking, monitoring, and removing space debris from orbit.
“Space debris is a growing problem that threatens to undermine the reliability and safety of our space infrastructure,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
The U.S. government has already taken steps to address the problem, including implementing guidelines to reduce the creation of new debris and working with other space-faring nations to establish best practices for space debris management.
Private investors have also shown interest in addressing the issue, with several companies investing in technologies that can track and remove space debris. One such company, Astroscale, has raised over $200 million to develop and deploy space debris removal satellites.
“Space debris is not just a problem for government agencies, but for the entire space industry,” said Nobu Okada, CEO of Astroscale. “We are proud to be working with government partners and other private companies to develop the technologies and solutions needed to address this critical issue.”
As the space industry continues to grow, the threat posed by space debris will only increase. However, with the collaboration of the U.S. government and private investors, the hope is that new technologies and approaches will be developed to mitigate this growing danger and ensure the safety and reliability of space exploration and infrastructure for years to come.