Debris threaten the dawn of the new space era

Brussels, Berlin, Paris Infinite expanses? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Space fills with junk, at least where people spread their equipment and shops: in the orbit of the earth. Remnants of discarded satellites have become one of the greatest challenges facing space travel. They threaten astronauts, space stations and communication networks, and hinder the economic use of space.

The US space agency NASA warns: “The growing amount of space debris increases the potential danger for all spacecraft, including the International Space Station.”

Because the metal splinters race around the earth at a speed of more than 28,000 kilometers per hour, even small parts are enough to destroy a satellite – and thus produce new scrap that produces even more scrap. A debris field is already spanning the earth, it threatens to grow exponentially and turn the orbit into a minefield.