For the videocast “Head in the Stars”, Luc Gilson receives Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis every week, trainer at the Eurospace Center and president of the Mars Society Belgium. This week, he warns of the growing dangers of space debris, which represents a real challenge.
Since the launch of the first Sputnik satellite in 1957, space has gradually become cluttered with debris. Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis, trainer at the Eurospace Center and president of the Mars Society Belgium, explains that this problem, neglected at the beginning, is now taking on worrying proportions.
Constantly increasing space debris
With each launch, a rocket generates debris. These abandoned pieces, whether from rocket stages or end-of-life satellites, remain in orbit around the Earth or even the Moon.
For example, the third stage of the Saturn V rocket from the Apollo 12 mission is currently orbiting the Sun and could one day return to Earth, explains Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis. “So, it could one day penetrate our layer of atmosphere. There is all that, rocket elements, but there are also abandoned satellites which have reached the end of their life. And we don’t know what to do with them “, he warns.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), there are today more than 900,000 pieces of debris larger than one centimeter in orbit. Each of these fragments, even tiny, represents a potential danger for active satellites and manned missions. “It goes at 28,000 km per hour, so no armor would withstand such an impact. The ISS could very well be punctured from top to bottom by a screw, or anything. And so, it frequently happens that it there are alerts”, specifies Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis.
The concrete dangers of space debris
It is therefore not uncommon for the International Space Station (ISS) to be put on alert due to the threat of debris. NORAD, an American organization, catalogs and monitors all objects in orbit, including small ones like tools lost by astronauts. When debris approaches the ISS dangerously, measures can be taken, such as changing the station’s orbit or asking astronauts to take refuge in a “Soyuz” spacecraft, which are emergency vessels, explains the space expert .
Recently, a Soyuz spacecraft docked with the ISS was damaged by an impact, likely caused by debris or a meteorite. This incident forced the cosmonauts to extend their stay in orbit while waiting for a replacement vessel to be sent.
Towards regulation and management of debris
Awareness of this problem is growing, and efforts are being made to monitor and manage space debris. Initiatives like that of the ESA recommend legislation to force operators to manage the debris generated by their missions. New technologies, like those developed by SpaceX, make it possible to recover and reuse rocket stages, thereby reducing space waste.
However, the solution will not be simple. A space “garbage truck” capable of collecting all the debris is an attractive idea but unrealistic due to costs and technical challenges. Reducing new debris and proactively managing congested orbits remain priorities.
The “New space” and its challenges
The rise of private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, as well as satellite constellations for internet communications, are increasing the number of objects in orbit. Although these initiatives have economic and technological benefits, they also increase the risk of collisions. “It has become a business, you can buy a Starlink, and that will allow, this is Elon Musk’s ultimate goal, to be able to go to Mars,” explains Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis.
Pierre-Emmanuel Paulis underlines the importance of strict regulations and international cooperation to manage this crucial issue. He calls for accountability among those involved in “New Space” to prevent space from becoming impractical for future exploration missions, particularly those to Mars, the ultimate objective of many current projects.
The space debris problem is complex and multidimensional. It requires concerted actions and technological innovations to minimize risks. In the meantime, vigilance and collective responsibility remain essential to protect our access to space. “Debris is a real problem. The first thing to do is legislate. The UN is well aware of this, but there are political and geopolitical forces behind it too. It’s a famous debate”specifies the space expert.
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