#clearspace

[scifi4wifi]

Clearspace-1 Space Junk Collector Target Hit by Space Junk

Boy, some news days in the Sci-Fi realm are slow, but as the Boss Man at SCIFI.radio says, you can’t make this stuff up. A target for the European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1 mission couldn’t wait for garbage collection day in the agency’s planned 2026 test mission. It got clobbered by another piece of space debris, rending it into pieces. The 250 lb rocket adapter, left over from a 2013 Vega…

[reasonsforhope]

We’ve just taken a major step toward cleaning up space junk.

On Monday, October 2, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US issued its first fine for space debris, ordering the US TV provider Dish to pay $150,000 for failing to move one of its satellites into a safe orbit. 

“It is definitely a very big symbolic moment for debris mitigation,” says Michelle Hanlon, a space lawyer at the University of Mississippi. “It’s a great step in the right direction.”

But it might be more than just a symbolic gesture by the FCC. Not only does it set a precedent for tackling bad actors who leave dangerous junk orbiting Earth, but it could send shock waves through the industry as other satellite operators become wary of having their reputation tarnished. While the $150,000 FCC fine was modest, Dish’s share price fell by nearly 4% immediately following its announcement, pushing the company’s $3 billion valuation down about $100 million.

The FCC’s action could also help breathe new life into the still-small market for commercial removal of space debris, essentially setting a price—$150,000—for companies such as Astroscale in Japan and ClearSpace in Switzerland to aim for in providing services that use smaller spacecraft to sidle up to dead satellites or rockets and pull them back into the atmosphere...

Another hope is that the FCC’s fine will encourage other countries to follow suit with their own enforcement actions on space junk. “It sends a message out of America taking leadership in this area,” says Newman. “This is starting the ball rolling.”

Today there are more than 8,000 active satellites, nearly 2,000 dead satellites, and hundreds of empty rockets orbiting Earth. Managing these objects and preventing collisions is a huge task, and one that is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of satellites grows rapidly. The worsening situation is largely due to mega-constellations of hundreds or thousands of satellites from companies like SpaceX and Amazon, designed to beam the internet to any corner of the globe...

Hanlon says there are further measures that could be taken to discourage companies from failing to dispose of satellites properly. “Honestly, I would love to see that if you don’t meet your license requirements, you’re banned from launching for a number of years,” she says. “If you’re driving under the influence you can have your license revoked. These are the kinds of measures we need to see.”

Chris Johnson, a space law advisor at the Secure World Foundation in the US, says the loss of reputation for Dish about the satellite situation might be worse than any fine it could have received. “They promised to remove it and they didn’t,” he says. “It’s like the first operator of a car to get a speeding ticket.”

The fall in the company’s share price appears to be indicative of that reputational damage. The fine may not have been as severe as it could have been, but the FCC’s actions can be seen as a warning to other companies to tackle space junk. “This is going to be on their record and their reputation,” says Johnson. “It’s not trivial.”

-via MIT Technology Review, October 5, 2023

Always nice to see steps taken to tackle a problem BEFORE it causes incredibly massive issues

[starangela]

Grian in his latest video: What Doing?

(Made me think of this ClearSpace What Doin advert)

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Managing space debris through space law

It's becoming increasingly crowded in the orbits around Earth that are popular for space travel. And that's not just due to satellites—there's also more waste material, which is compromising safety. Ph.D. candidate Zhuang Tian is conducting research into the legal aspects of discarded space equipment. Whoever leaves debris behind should take responsibility and clean it up.

In the near future, probes with robotic arms will be hovering in orbit. The arms will have four metal tentacles spread out like a spider's legs, ready to catch a discarded satellite where the probes maneuver minutely. It's one of the techniques the company ClearSpace is currently simulating—only on Earth for the time being.

Active debris removal

With his specialization in space law, legal expert Zhuang Tian is following these developments closely. He will shortly be defending his Ph.D. thesis on the legal aspects of space debris disposal. The specific focus of his research is how companies like ClearSpace and the Japanese company Astroscale are planning on actively removing debris, because there is another option: space equipment that removes itself after use by burning into the atmosphere. But as Tian explains, current satellites can't yet do that, hence the need for a collection service provided by private companies.

"Space agencies such as ESA could encourage the development of active debris removal (ADR) missions and their exploitation," he says.

Antisocial campers

As Tian explains following his Ph.D. research, space law is lagging behind, and so it's essential that clear rules and international agreements are put in place. He compares the behavior of countries that are the registered owners of discarded satellites with that of antisocial campers.

"You can compare it to a campsite littered with cans and plastic bottles. Of course, you could solve the problem technically by constantly removing the waste. But what works better is putting rules in place that inform campers about responsible behavior. I started investigating how space law encourages the countries and space agencies in question to clean up their space debris. Because even now, it's not clear to the states concerned that they're obliged to do this."

An international mechanism

Tian has encountered legal hurdles along the way. From a legal perspective, it appears to be risky for a state to clean up another state's scrap. Space equipment is the property of the state of registration, even if it has since been discarded. Those who start the cleanup process run the risk of a country, company or government organization holding the cleaner liable for damage to property.

"So currently, cleanup missions only focus on waste that is owned—or is at least allowed to be owned—by the cleaner," explains Tian. "There needs to be an international mechanism that makes it easier for countries and space agencies to request and grant permission."

A double-edged sword

Tian explains that another factor at play is that removal technology—such as the ClearSpace tentacles—have a dual-use nature. Every part of a spacecraft could potentially be used as a weapon in space, even if that was never the intention when it was designed. A peaceful clean-up process could cause misunderstandings.

Tian adds, "If you're able to grab space debris, you're also able to grab another vehicle or deliberately collide with it. If a country removes a discarded object that belongs to another state, that state might perceive it as a hostile act—even if the intentions were good."

Transparency surrounding missions

Tian examined the rules, guidelines and laws for responsible behavior that would prevent space debris removal from being perceived as a threat. He says, "Addressing concerns is more effective than setting technical requirements dictating that objects may not be used for war purposes. After all, in space you could use any piece of equipment for military purposes. That's why I also recommend transparency surrounding space missions."

An international hotline

He is pinning his hopes on soft law—instruments that are not legally binding and yet serve as guidelines for behavior and practices in space. While they are voluntary, they can make up for the gaps in the prescriptive articles found in space treaties. He advocates international guidelines for active space debris removal. He also says that countries could increase their commitment to multilateral and unilateral agreements. This would put pressure on commitments made by states to do something about the debris. The United Nations could make a more active effort to agree on rules for clarity and safety in the event of dual use.

It's also important that countries coordinate with each other on this—perhaps by setting up an international hotline that countries can use to register spacecraft in the event of imminent collisions.

Future generations

Tian wants to expand the law governing space debris removal, and in the future hopes to get a ticket for a trip into space if it's affordable. By then, the chance of collisions with space debris should have decreased.

"I'm positive about that—there's a strong common awareness about sustainable use of space in the future. That will also benefit future generations, as space travel is becoming increasingly important in our daily lives."

[fishgut]

Collision frequency of artificial satellites: The creation of a debris belt Donald J. Kessler, Burton G. Cour-Palais First published: 1 June 1978 https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA06p02637 Citations: 564 PDFPDF Tools Share Abstract

As the number of artificial satellites in earth orbit increases, the probability of collisions between satellites also increases. Satellite collisions would produce orbiting fragments, each of which would increase the probability of further collisions, leading to the growth of a belt of debris around the earth. This process parallels certain theories concerning the growth of the asteroid belt. The debris flux in such an earth-orbiting belt could exceed the natural meteoroid flux, affecting future spacecraft designs. A mathematical model was used to predict the rate at which such a belt might form. Under certain conditions the belt could begin to form within this century and could be a significant problem during the next century. The possibility that numerous unobserved fragments already exist from spacecraft explosions would decrease this time interval. However, early implementation of specialized launch constraints and operational procedures could significantly delay the formation of the belt.

--

But if we make it to Mars and then accidentally contaminate the planet with our literal shit, it might be harder to answer this question. How would we know if the life we find on Mars is truly Martian, or something that’s come from Earth? And if our microbes from Earth take a liking to Mars and spread, there may be no way to undo that.

The UN Outer Space Treaty — signed in 1967, two years before the Apollo 11 landing — stipulates that member states “shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.” That may be difficult if we get to Mars because wherever we go, our fecal matter goes too. Thinking about poop on the moon helps us think about a possible origin of life on Earth

As new missions to the moon are planned, we need to think carefully about the need to preserve the artifacts left at the Apollo landing sites. NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce recently reported that just landing within 100 meters of an Apollo site could potentially damage it.

Protecting the history of human exploration on the moon also means protecting the garbage — its historic value is immense, but so is its scientific value. We need to preserve these sites so scientists can return to them and take samples.

--

The European-built Cupola was added to the International Space Station in 2010 and continues to provide the best room with a view anywhere.

In addition to serving as an observation and work area when the crew operates the Station’s robotic arms, it also provides excellent views of Earth, celestial objects and visiting vehicles.

Its fused-silica and borosilicate-glass windows, however, sometime suffer from impacts by tiny artificial objects: space debris.

ESA astronaut Tim Peake took this photo from inside Cupola last month, showing a 7 mm-diameter circular chip gouged out by the impact from a tiny piece of space debris, possibly a paint flake or small metal fragment no bigger than a few thousandths of a millimetre across. The background just shows the inky blackness of space.

--

Space debris targeted for orbital cleanup has been hit, possibly by other space debris

The payload adaptor from a 2013 launch by the European Space Agency has been fragmented by a collision in orbit, officials say

In May, the ESA announced it would be the target of the ClearSpace-1 mission, an “active debris removal mission” designed to fly to VESPA, grab it, and then burn up during reentry, destroying both itself and the space junk. The plan was to launch as early as the first half of 2026.

Now that mission is in doubt. “On 10 August 2023, ESA’s Space Debris Office was informed by the United States 18th Space Defense Squadron that new objects have been detected in the vicinity of (the) payload adapter,” the space agency said in a press release on Tuesday.

[smallplaceinspace]

I somehow didn't hear until now that ClearSpace-1 got taken out by debris a few days ago. Very disappointing.

[deandacosta]

clearspace

http://dlvr.it/TDQH93

[columbianewsupdates]

ClearSpace Junk Removal: Revolutionizing Junk Removal Services in Atlanta, GA

http://dlvr.it/TBtBkn

[thesunshinereporter]

ClearSpace Junk Removal: Revolutionizing Junk Removal Services in Atlanta, GA

http://dlvr.it/TBt4NY

[jhavelikes]

Bold actions speak louder than words Throughout the space exploration history, ESA has played a significant role in advancing the global effort to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities. In 2020, ESA and 8 member states have taken a bold step forward and mandated the first debris removal mission in history to ClearSpace with the objective to remove an ESA owned derelict object from orbit and pave the way toward a new normal.

ClearSpace - A mission to make space sustainable

[clearspacegroundcare]

Garden Clearance Leicester | ClearSpace Groundcare Solutions

ClearSpace Groundcare Solutions offers premier garden clearance services in Leicester. Transforming neglected spaces into pristine landscapes, we meticulously clear debris, trim overgrown foliage, and remove unwanted elements. Our expert team ensures every corner is revitalized, leaving your garden immaculate and ready to flourish anew. Experience the difference with ClearSpace.

[tradedmiami]

LEASE IMAGE: David Sinopoli, Linn Ahsberg, Coloma Kaboomsky, Shai Ben Ami & Davide Danese DATE: 04/01/2024 ADDRESS: 151 Southeast 1st Street MARKET: Miami ASSET TYPE: Office LANDLORD: Shai Ben Ami - Clearspaces Florida LP TENANT: David Sinopoli, Davide Danese & Coloma Kaboomsky - Space Invaders (@SpaceMiami) BROKERS: Shai Ben Ami (@ShaimBenAmi) & Linn Ahsberg (@LinnAhsberg) - Urban Core ASKING RENT: $55/ft. ~ SF: 7,822 #Miami #RealEstate #tradedmia #MIA #TradedPartner #Office #DavidSinopoli #DavideDanese #ColomaKaboomsky #SpaceInvaders #ClearspacesFloridaLP #ShaiBenAmi #UrbanCore #LinnAhsberg

[sangamswami]

Navigating the Space Debris Removal Market: Trends, Challenges, and Growth Opportunities

The Space Debris Removal Market, valued at USD 0.1 billion in 2023, is poised for robust expansion, projected to reach USD 0.6 billion by 2028, boasting a staggering CAGR of 41.7%. This market, nestled within the satellite and technology industry, focuses on developing and deploying innovative solutions to eliminate defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and space fragments, thereby ensuring a cleaner and safer orbital environment.

The Space Debris Removal Market comprises various segments, including technique, orbit, debris size, end user, operation, and region, each contributing to the market's growth trajectory.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=179602300

Direct debris removal, involving active capture and removal of orbital debris, emerges as the leading segment, fueled by the pressing need to clear space clutter and mitigate collision risks. Advancements in robotic arms, nets, and propulsion techniques bolster the feasibility and efficacy of direct debris removal methods.

The multiple technique segment witnesses rapid growth, driven by the necessity to deploy a combination of techniques to address debris of varying sizes effectively. Synergistic effects arising from the integration of multiple techniques enhance the efficiency and efficacy of debris removal missions, catering to evolving business and mission requirements.

The commercial segment emerges as a key driver, fueled by the critical need to protect satellite assets and ensure operational continuity. Satellite operators, telecommunication companies, and Earth observation firms heavily rely on space infrastructure, necessitating efficient debris removal solutions to safeguard investments and maintain service reliability.

North America commands a significant share of the market, propelled by the presence of major players like Northrop Grumman and robust government support for the space industry. The region's investments in research, development, and deployment of debris removal systems underscore its leadership in the global market landscape.

The Space Debris Removal Market is dominated by globally established players such as Astroscale, ClearSpace, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Northrop Grumman, and Kall Morris Incorporated. These players leverage their expertise and investments to develop cutting-edge solutions and secure prominent contracts in the space debris removal domain.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=179602300

The Space Debris Removal Market is poised for remarkable growth, fueled by advancements in technology, increasing concerns over orbital safety, and growing investments in space exploration. With innovative solutions and strategic collaborations, stakeholders in the market are poised to address the challenges posed by space debris effectively, ensuring the sustainability and longevity of space activities in the years to come.

About MarketsandMarkets™

MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

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[news-locus]

Orbit Fab and ClearSpace to develop in-space refueling service

[decorworks]

Great Hacks for your Seasonal Storage

As the seasons change, it can be a challenging task to store away your seasonal items until they’re needed again. From bulky winter coats and holiday decorations to summer camping gear and swimsuits, it’s important to have a system in place to keep everything organized and easily accessible. 

20 Pack Vacuum Storage Bags, Space Saver Bags (4 Jumbo/4 Large/4 Medium/4 Small/4 Roll) Compression for Comforters and Blankets, Sealer Clothes Storage, Hand Pump Included #1 Best Seller, over 50K star ratings$19.99 (less 33%) In this blog, we’ll explore some great hacks for your seasonal storage needs.Use Vacuum-Sealed BagsWinter coats, blankets, and other bulky items can take up a lot of space in your closet or storage area. One way to maximize your space is by using vacuum-sealed bags. These bags are such a great space saver by dramatically compressing your items, making them easier to store and saving you valuable space. Plus, they keep your items protected from dust, moisture, and insects. We find these bags especially useful for keeping leather items such as coats, jackets and pants in great conditions over time. Utilize Clear BinsAnother great storage solution is using clear plastic bins. These bins allow you to see what’s inside without having to dig through multiple containers. You can also label the bins so you know exactly what’s in each one. This makes it easy to find what you need when the seasons change. If you’ve got a big family, it might seem like a lot of work at the beginning, but taking photos (on your phone or store it in the cloud) of the items in each bin will help you stay organized over the months and help you to remember where everything is. 

ClearSpace Plastic Storage Bins – Perfect Kitchen Organization or Pantry Storage – Fridge Organizer, Pantry Organization and Storage Bins, Cabinet Organizers$31.99 (less 36%) Store Holiday Decorations in Egg CartonsHoliday ornaments are fragile and can be difficult to store without them getting damaged. A clever hack is to re-use egg cartons to store your ornaments. Simply place each ornament in its own egg compartment, and then stack the cartons on top of each other. This keeps your ornaments safe and organized.Use Tension Rods in Your ClosetTension rods can be a lifesaver in your closet. They allow you to hang more items, such as scarves, hats, and belts, without taking up too much space. You can also use them to hang your winter coats, freeing up space on your hangers for other items. When your wardrobe needs change, just add more rods, or remove them. No drilling or extra hassles. 

ZipGlo Tension Curtain Rod Black Tension Rod 28 To 48 Inch Spring Curtain Rod Non Slip, No Drilling Adjustable Tension Rods of Curtain Window Closet Kitchen Wardrobe1, Plastic, 1pcs$13.99

Storage Bins with Lids,78 Quart Plastic Storage Bins with Lids,Large Closet Organizers and Storage,3 Packs Collapsible Storage Bins with Wheels,Double Door Stackable Storage Bins for Clothes,Home$101.39 (less 22%)

HOMIDEC Closet Organizers and Storage 70Qt 3 Pack Stackable Storage Bins with 3 Lids Closet Organizer Boxes for Clothes Foldable Storage Box for Clothes/Toys/Office Supplies/Snacks(23Qt X 3)$32.98 (less 15%)

Under Bed Storage - 4 Pack, Stackable Under Bed Storage Containers with Wheels, Folding Plastic Storage Box with Lid，Under Bed Storage Bins Drawer for Clothes, Shoes,Blankets$127.89 (less 19%)

Roll Your ClothesWhen packing away clothing, try rolling them instead of folding them. This saves space and reduces wrinkles. It also makes it easier to see what you have stored away in your bins or bags. When you keep a visual on your stuff, it will also help remind you of what you have, as we tend to keep buying things we already have at the spur of the moment. Hang Your LuggageFinally, if you’re short on storage space, consider hanging your luggage from the ceiling. This keeps it out of the way while also freeing up floor space. You can use hooks or a pulley system to hang your luggage safely and securely. If hanging is not an option, some bed frames offer lots of storage clearance under the bed, so you can store the items out of sight.  With these hacks, storing your seasonal items is going to be a breeze. By any of these storage ideas - vacuum-sealed bags, clear bins, egg cartons, tension rods, rolling clothes, and hanging luggage - you can make the most of your storage space and keep everything easily accessible. Happy organising! 

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