Remember the old 1979 TV series with Andy Griffith called "Salvage One?"
I remember he made hi own spaceship, "the Vulture," went to the Moon and salvaged some of the old junk from the Apollo missions.
Posted on 04/28/2013 5:49:27 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Action is needed soon to remove the largest pieces of space debris from orbit before the amount of junk destroys massive amounts of critical space infrastructure, according to a panel at the Sixth European Conference on Space Debris.
“Whatever we are going to do, whatever we have to do, is an expensive solution,” said Heiner Klinkrad, head of the European Space Agency space debris office, in a panel this week that was broadcast on ESA’s website.
“We have to compare the costs to solving the problem in an early stage as opposed to losing the infrastructure in orbit in the not-too-distant future.”
The panel estimated that there is $1.3 billion (1 billion Euros) worth of space satellite infrastructure that must be protected. The 200 most crucial satellites identified by the space community have an insured value of $169.5 million (130 million Euros), Klinkrad added.
Critical infrastructure, though not specified exactly by the panel, can include communication satellites and military eyes in the sky. Also at risk is that largest of human outposts in space — the International Space Station.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
“Sixth European Conference On Space Debris”
What did they come up with at the first five conferences?
“I say that debris in space is bad!”
“Me too! I want it on record that I’m against space debris!”
“And weak mixed drinks! We can all be against that!”
“Yes! And large sodas in space! Maybe we should have a subcommittee on that.”
“Head of The European Space Agency Space Debris Office”.
“Excuse me, but do you know where the head of The European Space Agency Space Debris Office is?”
“Maybe you should get a map of the solar system and see if he’s in Uranus.”
Only $850k per satellite? Why so low?
Solar collectors at Lagrange points that either focus and emit concentrated light or convert it to a narrow beam laser. With the light or laser you could vaporize the small objects and with the larger objects you could vaporize a surface point to impart earthward momentum...
You too, huh? I’m glad to see another “Salvage One” reference.
It was a pretty neat show.
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