NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #19/NN_1992_19.iso/spool/sci/environm/10997

Internet Message Format | 1992-09-02 | 1.6 KB

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From: [e-mail] (Mike E. Romano)
Newsgroups: sci.environment
Subject: Space Poop
Date: 2 Sep 1992 22:20:53 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
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Since 1957 more than 3,300 launches have produced 7,000 trackable objects
currently in orbit, equalling approximately 3,000 tons of man made material.
Of these 7,000 catalogued objects the U.S. and USSR have produced approx
3,300 each.  The rest are from Europe and other countries.

Of these 7000 catalogued objects only 400 are operational satellites.
The rest of this number include abandoned or nonfunctioning satellites,
upper stages, and fragments including lens covers, separation bolts
and clamp bands.
Further, there are from 30,000 to 70,000 smaller objects that are larger
than 10 cm which have not been catalogued.  Any pieces in this size range
and eventually rain down to earth.

Objects above the geostationary altitude of 1000 km will remain there for
approximately 1000 years during which time orbitting the earth more than
5,000,000 times posing constant collisiion hazards.
Interactive collisions in Earth orbits will eventually generate sufficient
debris to create a dense debris belt and prevent further launchings.
Some scientists also suggest that such debris belt could significantly
reduce solar radiation and therby produce world climate alterations.
--
            Mike Romano     Univ. Calif. Berkeley