Imperiled Astronauts Illustrate the Dangers of Space Debris
7 days ago
- #Space Debris
- #Space Exploration
- #China Space Program
- Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie's return from the Tiangong Space Station was delayed due to space debris damaging their Shenzhou-20 spacecraft.
- The Shenzhou-20 mission was postponed after cracks were found in one of its windows, posing a safety risk during re-entry.
- The astronauts eventually returned safely aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft after 204 days in space.
- Space debris is a growing problem, with over 34,000 objects larger than 10 cm orbiting Earth at high speeds.
- China's 2007 anti-satellite test significantly contributed to space debris, creating thousands of hazardous fragments.
- There is currently no cost-effective way to remove existing space debris, making prevention and stricter regulations essential.