What is Space Debris, and How Dangerous is it? Part 2

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. mass / mæs / (n.) – a large number or amount of something
    Example:

    The people who attended the huge party left a huge mass of garbage.


  2. spawn / spɔn / (v.) – to create or produce something
    Example:

    The huge vase spawned hundreds of tiny pieces of glass when it broke.


  3. fragment / ˈfræg mənt / (n.) – a part or piece that was broken off from something larger
    Example:

    The fragments of the broken vase are all over the floor.


  4. take shelter / teɪk ˈʃɛl tər / (idiom) – to protect oneself from danger, bad weather, or attack
    Example:

    If there’s an earthquake and you’re indoors, you should take shelter under a well-built table.


  5. altitude / ˈæl tɪˌtud / (n.) – the height of something from above the surface of the sea
    Example:

    Our plane is currently flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates the total mass of all space objects in Earth orbit is more than 9,600 tons. In a few decades, if the buildup of space debris continues, some regions of space might become unusable, Holger Krag, head of the ESA’s Space Safety Programme Office, said in an interview.


The Nov. 15 destruction of the Kosmos 1408 satellite, which was launched in 1982 and weighed more than 2,000 kg, created a significant amount of space debris. The test generated more than 1,500 pieces of “trackable orbital debris” and would likely spawn hundreds of thousands of smaller fragments, the U.S. Space Command said in a statement.


The crew of the space station were directed to take shelter in docked spaceship capsules for two hours after the test in case they needed to leave due to a collision with debris.


“The event happened at an altitude just 80 kilometers from the space station altitude,” Krag said. “So the risk for the space station will be increased, perhaps even doubled, compared to what it was before.”


According to NASA, debris in orbits below 600 kilometers will fall back to Earth within several years, but above 1,000 kilometers, debris will continue circling the Earth for a century or more.


Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency and the ESA have partnered with startups to help with removal of space debris.


JAXA has launched a six-month demonstration project with Tokyo-based startup Astroscale for the world’s first debris removal mission, and the ESA is working with Swiss startup ClearSpace to launch a mission in 2025. (Reuters)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The crew of the space station was directed to take shelter in docked spaceship capsules for two hours after the test in case they needed to leave due to a collision with debris. What do you think the crew might have felt during those two hours? If you were one of the crew members, would you continue working at the International Space Station (ISS) given these risks? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • According to Krag, the event happened at an altitude just 80 kilometers from the space station altitude, which increased the risk of danger to the ISS. Given the growing risk of collision, do you think astronauts should still be sent to the ISS? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Japan and European countries are taking the steps to clear up the debris from space. Do you think all other countries should be involved? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency and the ESA have partnered with startups to help with the removal of space debris. Why do you think the agency decided to take on this difficult task? Discuss.