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i.gizmodo.com - 2/23/2009

Satellite Collision May Have Endangered All Future Space Launches [Space]

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Remember when those two satellites collided the other day? Seems that they'll be the space junk gift that keeps on giving, as their 800-km debris orbiting field could hamper all future space launches. "Future launches will have to be adjusted with regard to the fact that the debris [from the ...

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Recent space crash could hamper all future satellite programs
Newlaunches.com — ... orbit along with items dropped by astronauts, including tools and the odd glove. In the 1970s one NASA scientist pointed out that debris from one collision could go on to create a second, which would create still more debris and more collisions, and so on. Eventually, an entire orbit would be rendered useless for generations. The orbits around the Earth are too valuable to let this happen, and something needs to be done to either prevent or eradicate this problem all together. Via [ Gizmodo ] ...

Space Station Crew Climb Into Escape Module To Avoid Passing Space Debris [ISS]
Gizmodo — Members of the ISS crew climbed aboard the Soyuz TMA-13 capsule for about 10 minutes today as a precaution against space debris passing nearby. The threat was called off around 12:45 EDT. In addition to the 19,000+ pieces of space junk floating around, the recent collision of two satellites has substantially increased the dangers of working in orbit. Close calls like this one may become the norm. [NASA Thanks Ryan] ...