Our burgeoning fascination with the cosmos has ushered in a era of rapid technological advancement and numerous successful space missions. However, it has also given rise to a persistent predicament that continues to worsen with each passing year: space debris. The Earth’s lower orbit has become increasingly cluttered with defunct satellites, discarded rocket stages, remnants of mission mishaps, and more. This congestion has led to a surge in collisions between active mission components and this ever-growing “space junk,” perpetuating a destructive cycle of further debris creation. In a bid to address this pressing issue, NASA has partnered with TransAstra to introduce innovative concept bags designed to capture and contain this space debris. Let’s delve into the details of what this technology entails and how it aims to tackle the problem.
TransAstra Secures NASA Contract for Space Debris Cleanup
NASA has selected TransAstra, a US-based space logistics startup, for a contract valued at $850,000 under its Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research program. The contract’s purpose is to develop a unique inflatable bag designed to capture and safely transport space debris back to Earth’s surface. This innovative device will be deployed to Earth’s lower orbit and inflated using specialized struts. Prior to its launch, extensive ground testing will be conducted to ensure its effectiveness.
According to report by SpaceNews, this concept builds upon NASA’s capture bag technology developed for its Asteroid Redirect Mission. In 2021, TransAstra introduced a concept bag with the support of NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts funding. These bags are available in various sizes and shapes and are capable of capturing a wide range of debris, from defunct satellites to large rocket components. Once successfully capturing debris, these struts will close, creating an airtight seal.
As the inflatable bag will remain securely attached to a compact spacecraft ferry, NASA and TransAstra will have the flexibility to travel to various regions within Earth’s orbit for efficient debris pickup and cleanup. When the bag reaches its capacity, a specialized propulsion system will facilitate a safe reentry of the spacecraft into Earth’s orbit.
Nonetheless, this endeavor won’t be without its challenges. As TransAstra’s CEO Joel Sercel explained, space debris is in constant motion and not stationary, so the capture bag must match the debris’s spinning speed to some extent to ensure a successful grab. The specialized bag will then execute a precision maneuver to “open the bag, encircle the debris, and then close the bag.”
He further likened the entire process to gathering “fired bullets.” Additionally, the whole undertaking of venturing into space, capturing space debris, and re-entering Earth’s orbit to bring it back is highly fuel-intensive. Therefore, the inflatable bag will aim to capture as much space debris as possible during its missions.
At present, this project is largely in its experimental phase. The issue of space junk is indeed a pressing one, and it will be fascinating to see how this collaboration between NASA and TransAstra contributes to cleaning up the cosmos from man-made debris. With that said, what are your thoughts on this initiative? Do you believe it can be successfully realized? Feel free to express your opinions in the comments area down below.
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