Space debris has essentially enshrouded the Earth (over the 70 some years since Sputnik first flew) in a cloud of what would be, in many cases, lethal debris, some of it moving at over 10,000 mph.
The proliferation of commercial space operations, while welcome, will serve to generate new challenges, such as an operating environment more crowded with spacecraft -- and correspondingly increased debris fields. Understanding the risks and benefits associated with this growth is crucial for space sustainability. Do read it all:
. . .To address a rapidly changing space operating environment and ensure its preservation for generations to come, NASA released the first part of its integrated Space Sustainability Strategy, on Tuesday advancing the agency’s role as a global leader on this crucial issue.
“The release of this strategy marks true progress for NASA on space sustainability,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Space is busy – and only getting busier. If we want to make sure that critical parts of space are preserved so that our children and grandchildren can continue to use them for the benefit of humanity, the time to act is now. NASA is making sure that we’re aligning our resources to support sustainable activity for us and for all.”
For decades, NASA has served as a proactive leader for responsible and sustainable space operations. Entities across the agency develop best practices, analytic tools, and technologies widely adopted by operators around the world. The new strategy seeks to integrate those efforts through a whole-of-agency approach – allowing NASA to focus its resources on the most pressing issues. To facilitate that integration, NASA will appoint a new director of space sustainability to coordinate activities across the agency. . . .
Now you know -- onward, grinning.
नमस्ते
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