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A worn-out rocket scene that gravitated around the Earth since 2009 has recently broken, and an observatory in Spain captured images of the new cloud of debris as it traversed a bottom of stars.
The Deimos Sky Survey (DeSS), a Madrid astronomical complex dedicated to the detection and risk assessment of near-Earth objects, has identified and recorded the unusual appearance of new space debris in the March 26 to 28 of the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a statement. Scientists have used the "Antsy" optical sensor of the observatory, "which is suitable for tracking objects in low Earth orbit," according to ESA.
In the images, Antsy 's "eye" follows the particles of debris that move in space; The fragments of space debris appear as fixed points while the stars look like luminous trails, said representatives of DeSS in a statement. [How Much Space Junk Hits Earth?]
About 40 to 60 pieces have been identified in the debris cloud, and many of them have a diameter greater than 30 cm (12 inches), reported the CES.
Russian astronomers discovered the debris and informed their European observers on March 26 at a meeting of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), according to DeSS. Experts have determined that the space debris cloud was formerly an Atlas V Centaur rocket, launched on September 9, 2009 and equipped with a US communications satellite.
After the separation of the upper stage of the rocket, the cylinder – measuring approximately 12.5 meters long and weighing about 2 tons – settled in a stable orbit, where it could have remained "during centuries, "reported DeSS.
But the discarded rocket disintegrated between March 23 and 25, although the cause of its breakup is still unknown, according to ESA.
"Leaving a trail of debris in its wake, this fragmentation event provides space debris experts with a rare opportunity to test their understanding of such important processes," said Tim Flohrer, Senior Space Debris Monitoring Expert at the United States. ESA, in its press release.
The circles mark the individual fragments of debris in a still image taken on March 27th.
(Image: © Deimos Sky Survey)
However, even though space debris provides researchers with fascinating forage, it also poses serious risks to humans in space and for missions in low Earth orbit. In fact, a recent analysis of ESA's Columbus module on the International Space Station (ISS) revealed hundreds of dings and craters in a "maraud" of space debris, reported the sister site of Live Science, Space.com, in January.
Following India's April 1 anti-satellite missile test in India, NASA has identified 400 new orbital debris, 60 of which are more than 10 cm in diameter, reported Live Science. Even relatively small objects moving at high speed can cause considerable damage to the ISS and threaten the safety of astronauts, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a city hall after the test. .
"It's not acceptable for us to allow people to create orbital debris fields that are endangering our people," Bridenstine said. "These activities are neither sustainable nor compatible with manned spaceflight."
The options that space agencies have considered for the removal of space wastes from their orbits include: catching debris with a clip and dragging them into the atmosphere to incinerate and then launch them with lasers; for the moment, at least, these solutions only exist in simulations.
Originally published on Science live.
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