Space Station Hit By Debri (Again)

fmdog44

fmdog44

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Robotic operators noticed a hole in the station's Canadarm2 provided by the Canadian Space Agency, which has been in service in orbit since 2001, during a routine inspection on May 12, the CSA officials said in a blog post Friday (May 28). Officials called the hole a "lucky strike" given the relatively small size of the arm, which is 57.7 feet (17.6 meters) long and has a diameter of just 14 inches (35 cm).

The size of the hole is not apparent in the pictures, nor if the debris went all the way through. However, it does appear Canadarm2's role in keeping the space station properly maintained can continue without interruption, following careful work from both CSA and NASA.

"Results of the ongoing analysis indicate that the arm's performance remains unaffected. The damage is limited to a small section of the arm boom and thermal blanket," the CSA said in the blog post.
 

Aunt Marg said:
Seems mankind just can't help himself in screwing up planets with his waste. :mad:
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It's expected to slowly fall to Earth and (mostly) burn up in our atmosphere, though.

Something like 10 years ago, NASA said it was designing a clean-up craft; something that's supposed to gather up all the space debris and bring it back for disposal or repurposing. Wonder what ever happened with that idea? Ten years later, there's probably 50X more junk up there. I don't know how the heck they'd gather all that up....and then dispose of it where?
 
Murrmurr said:
It's expected to slowly fall to Earth and (mostly) burn up in our atmosphere, though.

Something like 10 years ago, NASA said it was designing a clean-up craft; something that's supposed to gather up all the space debris and bring it back for disposal or repurposing. Wonder what ever happened with that idea? Ten years later, there's probably 50X more junk up there. I don't know how the heck they'd gather all that up....and then dispose of it where?
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This doesn't surprise me at all, Mur.

My proverb, "big smoke and no fire", fits this well.
 
"Scientists estimate that about 500,000 bits of junk measuring 1 to 10 centimeters are now orbiting Earth, while another several hundred million bits smaller than 1 centimeter also exist out there."

Currently, out of necessity there are programs being developed to reduce the amount of junk. Keep in mind now days rocket launces include releasing 50-60 satellites. Remember the Muppets "Pigs In Space?'' That can no longer be applied to puppets but to people and sadly intelligent people.
 
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