Answer To: Topic:Any topic related to spacepaper should be structured like this: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTIONCHAPTER...
Abhinaba answered on Jun 26 2021
Running Head: Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 1
SPACE JUNK AND ITS IMPACT ON SPACE STABILITY
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 2
Abstract
The current thesis paper aims at understanding the growing challenge of space junk and
focuses on the impact space junk has had on the stability of the space. The thesis paper has been
titled “Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability”. This paper aims at developing a better
understanding of the basic concepts of space junk and its history. The paper also aims at
determining the sources of space junk and the hazards it has been causing along with the
potential hazards it may cause in the future. The paper also sheds light on the measurement and
tracking methods being used. A section of the paper has been dedicated to the space junk
removal measures to develop a better understanding of the topic along with its associated
variables. The thesis paper will also discuss about the impact of space junk on the satiability of
space. Beginning from the 1950s till date human beings have launched a large number of
rockets, satellites as well as crewed and non-crewed spacecrafts into the space. Most of these
satellites and rockets have come to an end of their lives and now are simply littering the space by
floating around in an uncontrolled manner. The increasing desire of human beings to explore
space has now caused havoc in the space as there are thousands of dead satellites that are
orbiting our planet Earth. The junk of rockets that we have been launching so far has added to
this mess. This is a major concern, which seeks attention to avoid issues, risks and challenges
that are bound to occur one day if the problem is not being solved timely. It is therefore vital to
study about space junk and develop an understanding regarding the challenges it may pose in the
nearing future
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 3
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6
1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Background of the Research ............................................................................................ 6
1.2 Research Rationale................................................................................................................ 7
1.3 Research Aim ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.4 Research Objectives .............................................................................................................. 8
1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Significance of the Research ................................................................................................. 9
1.7 Outline of the Research ....................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................................ 11
2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Concept, History and Categories of Space Junk ............................................................ 11
2.2 Sources of Space Junk .................................................................................................... 14
2.3 Sources of the Problem Related to Space Junk ................................................................... 17
2.4 Proliferation of Space Junk ............................................................................................ 20
2.5 Tracking and Measuring the Space Junk ............................................................................ 20
2.6 Dealing with Space Junk ................................................................................................ 22
2.7 Space Stability and Associated Factors .......................................................................... 25
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 4
2.8 Impact of Space Junk on Stability of the Lower Earth Orbit ......................................... 26
2.9 Hazards Caused by Space Junk on Space Stability ........................................................ 28
Chapter 3: Research Methodology................................................................................................ 32
3.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 32
3.1 Research Method Proposition ............................................................................................. 32
3.2 Research Onion ................................................................................................................... 33
3.3 Research Philosophy ........................................................................................................... 34
3.4 Research Approach ............................................................................................................. 34
3.5 Research Design.................................................................................................................. 35
3.6 Research Strategy................................................................................................................ 35
3.7 Types of Research ............................................................................................................... 36
3.8 Data Sources ....................................................................................................................... 36
3.8 Data Collection Methods .................................................................................................... 36
3.9 Data Analysis Techniques ................................................................................................... 37
3.10 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................... 37
3.11 Accessibility Issues ........................................................................................................... 38
Chapter 4: Data and Results .......................................................................................................... 39
Chapter 5: Findings ....................................................................................................................... 42
5.1 The Problem of Space Junk ................................................................................................ 42
5.2 Space Traffic Management and Space Stability ................................................................. 43
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 5
5.3 Complications of Space Junk Removal .............................................................................. 44
5.4 Influence of Earth’s Shadowing Effect on the Stability of Space Debris ........................... 45
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................. 46
6.0 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 46
6.1 Linking Objectives with the Findings ................................................................................. 47
6.1.1 Objective 1 ................................................................................................................... 47
6.1.2 Objective 2 ................................................................................................................... 47
6.1.3 Objective 3 ................................................................................................................... 48
6.1.4 Objective 4 ................................................................................................................... 48
6.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 49
6.3 Limitations of the Research ................................................................................................ 49
6.4 Future Scope of the Research ............................................................................................. 50
References ..................................................................................................................................... 51
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 6
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.0 Introduction
Since, the beginning of the space age from 1950s until date, human beings have sent
several rockets and even more satellites into the orbit of earth. Our desire to explore space has
now caused a mess in the space, as there are, thousands of dead satellites orbiting our planet
Earth. The junk of rockets that we have been launching so far has added to this mess. This is a
major concern, which seeks attention to avoid issues, risks and challenges that are bound to
occur one day if the problem is not being solved timely. It is therefore vital to study about space
junk and develops an understanding regarding the challenges it may pose in the nearing future.
Space junk also known as, space debris or space trash is a term used for dysfunctional
human-made object in the space, which no longer serves their intended useful purposes (Rand,
2016). This can include non-functional spacecraft, abandoned launch vehicle stages, mission-
related debris and fragmentation debris. Space junk has been a threat for the future and may
cause several problems and interferences for the future space-research projects and several other
satellites respectively (Loomis, 2017). The universe is infinite but the space has its limit and
therefore the ever increasing desires of the human being to explore the space is now littering the
orbits around Earth.
1.1 Background of the Research
In the first half of the twentieth century, before synthetic objects were launched into
space, some scientists came up with an opinion that the orbits around the Earth might be littered
with small chunks of junk, which could hinder manned spaceflight (Pelton, 2017). Over the past
fifty decades, the space around the earth has been turned into a clutter zone, which was initially
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 7
thought of as a debris free environment. This has been threatening several launches, active
satellites and the International Space Station (Dawson, 2018). NASA reports that as of 2013,
more than 21,000 piece at least the size of a softball were being tracked, and an estimated
500,000 pieces at least the size of a marble are thought to exist. More than 100 million even
smaller objects, ranging down to the size of a tiny fleck of paint, are too small to detect or track
(Hall, 2014). Active satellites, numbering about 1,100, comprise about 6 percent of Earth-
orbiting objects; the rest is junk, commonly called space debris (NASA, 2019). This paper
examines what space debris consists of, where it came from, and what problems it is causing.
1.2 Research Rationale
The issue is amount of space junk or space debris is continuously increasing in the
Earth’s orbit. As the number of these small and large useless satellites and debris continues to
increase, the chances of them colliding with other satellites or rockets in the space also increases
manifolds (Bai, Yin & Bai, 2020). There are nearly 2000 active satellites in the space and
remaining 3000 are dead satellites that are simply littering the space (National History Museum,
2018). These dead ones can prove to be quite disastrous if they collide with something else. It is
therefore, essential to take into consideration the impacts of space junk and the influence it can
have on future space-research projects and satellites being launched for several other purposes.
In the recent times, satellites left at higher altitudes are a serious reason of concern as
compared to the ones left at lower altitudes. The satellites at higher altitudes continue to circle
the Earth for hundreds of years before they get into the atmosphere. Though space junk is not
posing huge risks in the current scenario is a major reason of concern with increasing human
activities to explore the space (Witze, 2018). It can be a major risk for space exploration.
Moreover, as more satellites will be launched with advancements in technology more and more
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 8
collision avoidance manoeuvres have to be considered, which will not only require considerable
cost investment but time as well. Several technologies are being used to remove these dead
satellites from the space.
This research is conducted to develop a better understanding of the basic concepts of
space junk and its history. The paper also aims at determining the sources of space junk and the
hazards it has been causing along with the potential hazards it may cause in the future. The paper
also sheds light on the measurement and tracking methods being used. Some of the most widely
researched and accepted methods of removing space junk have also been discussed through this
paper. This paper will also shed light on the impact of space junk on stability of space.
1.3 Research Aim
This research aims at developing an understanding about the impact of space junk on the
space stability. It further aims at determining the challenges this space junk may pose to space
exploration, safety of space travel and safety of humans on the surface of Earth, in the nearing
future. The current research also aims at exploring the measures being implemented for
managing the space junk that has been littering Earth’s orbit.
1.4 Research Objectives
Based on the aim of the research, this research focuses on achieving the below mentioned
research objectives:
• To understand the meaning of space junk, its history, its categories and its sources
• To understand the concept of space stability and its importance for future space
explorations
• To analyse the potential hazards space junk cause in context of space stability
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 9
• To explore the potential remedial measures that can be used to reduce the amount of
space junk and improve space stability
1.5 Research Questions
The key questions that the research aims to answer are:
• What is space junk, its history, its categories and its sources?
• What is space stability and why is it important for future space explorations?
• What risks are the potential hazards of space junk in terms of space stability?
• What are the potential remedial measures to reduce space junk to improve space
stability?
1.6 Significance of the Research
The current research will help to develop a basic understanding of space junk, its causes,
the issues and risks it might pose for the human beings and the future space studies and the
methods that could be adapted to avoid the problems further. The seriousness of the issue has
managed to grab the attention of space researchers and space scientists and has forced them to
think over the problem and come up with a sustainable solution as soon as possible. The
increasing percentage of space junk has been reducing the stability of the space considerably and
will pose a major issue for the future space projects. This is not only an issue for the satellites in
space but will also be a major concern for astronauts on space mission. With increasing number
of uncontrolled junk the chances of collision and explosion are increasing day by day. The
suggestions provided in the research will help mitigate the issues faced.
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 10
1.7 Outline of the Research
The entire paper has been divided into six sections for systematic assessment of the
research topic and reaching research objectives. Among the six chapters, the first chapter is
Introduction, in which the researcher has given over view of the research topic and its
background. In the following chapters, namely, Literature Review, the researcher gave detailed
assessment of research topic and the variables associated with it. In the third chapter, Research
Methodology offers an in-depth variety of tools used for the research along with the justification
for their selection. In the fourth chapter, Data and results, the research has collected data based
on the methods selected in the Research Methodology Chapter. Fifth chapter named findings will
focus on the inferences made. The final chapter will provide the conclusions and
recommendations.
Figure 1: Structure of the Research
(Source: Researcher)
Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter 5: Findings
Chapter 4: Data Findings and Results
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 1: Introduction
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 11
Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.0 Introduction
This chapter will be seeking out several literary sources that will be accessed and referred to
develop a clear and in-depth comprehension of the research topic and will discuss about the
variables closely associated with the topic. The literary sources are critically aligned and are
discussed in the light of the research topic variable. The research topic variables have been
organised in an interlinked manner so that a better understanding of the contributions of the
research topic variable towards the achievement of the collective goal can be determined. The
literary sources used for this research are meant not only to provide definitions of the topics and
variables rather they have been used to critically align the research topic variables with the
research topic. In order to ease the understating of the project, a conceptual framework is added
towards the end of the chapter.
2.1 Concept, History and Categories of Space Junk
Orbital decay: Space junk and the environmental history of Earth's planetary
borderlands
Space junk is referred to as the dysfunctional human made objects in the space
particularly in the Earth’s orbit (Rand, 2016). Space junk also known as space debris is non-
functional and human made objects, including elements and fragments into the Earth’s orbit or
re-entering into the atmosphere of the Earth. These are primarily the satellites, launch vehicle
stages and rockets that have been launched into the space by humans and no longer serve a
useful purpose. These can be considered as artificial material that have been orbiting the earth
and are no longer useful in any sense. From non-functional huge spacecrafts to satellites to small
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 12
nuts and bolts, space junk comprises all of it. Space junk is a negative externality that may create
a negative cost on others from the launch of a spacecraft to its usage in the earth’s orbit.
Review and comparison of active space debris capturing and removal methods
The existence of space junk or debris was confirmed by the routine ground based radars
and optical measurements, which were performed by the space surveillance systems of Russia
and United States. These systems allowed the cataloging and tracking of objects, whose size
varied from 5-10 cm and even larger. These objects were found in the lower orbit. Objects of
size 0.3-0.1 m or larger were observed in the geostationary orbit altitudes, which are 36000 km
above the equator of the Earth. These cataloged objects have their orbits and some of them have
been traced back to launch events. Ground-based search radars have been continuously detecting
small objects, whose size may be in centimeters of even less (Shan, Guo & Gill, 2016).
However, it is not an easy task to determine the correlated specific launch events of such
small objects. Their orbits cannot be fined either with higher accuracy. The presence of smaller
space debris, typically less than 1 mm in size, can be deduced from impact craters on returned
space hardware, or from onboard impact detectors. This technique cannot be used to predict
objects larger in size than 1 mm as the data collection time span of such objects in combination
with the reduced impact probability is less. The two main debris fields are the ring of objects in
geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and the cloud of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) (Shan, Guo
& Gill, 2016).
A Comprehensive Study on Space Debris, Threats Posed by Space Debris, and Removal
Techniques. Threats Posed by Space Debris, and Removal Techniques
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 13
Considering the history of space junk, it started to accumulate in the Earth’s orbit right
after the launch of the first man made satellite in the year 1957. NORAD and NASA began to
gather data about the space debris and fed it into a database providing information about the junk
being accumulated. NORAD began compiling a database known as the space object catalog,
which includes information about rocket launches and objects reaching the Earth’s orbit such as
satellites, upper stages of launch vehicles and protective shields. This database was later
published by NASA in a modified version, which explained the entire data in a two line element
set (Mullick, Srinivasa, Sahu & Sata, 2019).
The first satellite launched into the orbit of the Earth Sputnik 1, is considered to be the
starting point of the accumulation of space debris into Earth’s orbit. However, most of the
researchers do not take this into consideration as core stage of launch rocket of Sputnik 1 stayed
into the orbit for two months and the satellite burned up on it atmospheric re-entry a month later.
This was not an issue but the problem started to become serious soon after, Vanguard 1, the
second satellite was launched by United States, which was placed into Earth’s orbit in the year
1958 and the satellite stopped radio transmissions six years later. Though the satellite is no more
useful, it still lies in the Middle Earth Orbit and it has been estimated that it may stay there for
another 200 years.
Optical observations of space debris in GEO and in highly-eccentric orbits. Advances in
Space Research
Journey of human beings into the space began in the year 1957, when Sputnik was
launched by the Soviet Union. Since, then human beings have launched more than 4000 satellites
into the Earth’s orbit. With the increasing traffic into the space, trash is bound to occur.
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 14
Space junk has been broadly classified under three categories as discussed below:
1. Size: There are over 128 million pieces of junk smaller than 1cm, which are littering the
Earth’s orbit. There are approximately 900,000 pieces from one to ten cm. The current
count of large debris defined as 10 cm across or larger is 34,000. There were 9,000 pieces
of orbiting junk identified in 2008, with an estimated mass of 5,500 t.
2. Low Earth Orbit: The junk available in the orbits nearest to the Earth i.e. in less than
2000 km orbital altitude. This is known as the low-Earth orbit (LEO).
3. Higher Altitudes: The debris in the area where air drag is less significant. Orbital decay
takes a longer time at these altitudes. Earth's gravity perturbations, solar wind and
solar radiation pressure can gradually bring debris down to lower altitudes (where it
decays), but at very high altitudes this may take millennia (Schildknecht et al., 2004).
2.2 Sources of Space Junk
Space debris. Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering
Space junk is a result of launching objects by human beings into the orbit of Earth, which
may then stay in the orbit for hundreds of years. Some of the most common sources of space
junk have been identified as dead spacecrafts, lost equipments, boosters, anti-satellite weapons,
abandoned launch vehicle stages and dysfunctional satellites (Klinkrad, 2010). A detailed
explanation of these sources is a discussed below:
Dead spacecrafts, satellites are the most prominent contributors to the space junk.
Satellites that have reached the end of their lives or satellites and spacecrafts that have failed act
as debris into the orbit of the Earth. Rocket stages that have launched satellites into the space are
another reason of the space debris. Other materials such as nose cones, payload covers, shrouds,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pressure
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 15
bolts and other launch hardware left in the orbit of the Earth are considered as space debris
(Klinkrad, 2010).
Tutorial: An Overview of the Orbital Debris Environment
Some of the dead spacecrafts that are still present in the orbit of the Earth are Vanguard
1, which was launched by United States in the year 1958. It is present in the medium Erath orbit.
The upper stage of its launch rocket has still been found surviving in the space. Another example
of the debris is Soviet RORSTAT launched in the 1970s and 1980s and was launched as a naval
surveillance satellite program (Matney, 2019).
Lost equipments include the personal belongings as well as the object lost by space
astronauts while their space walks. Examples of lost equipments includes glove lost by
astronaut Ed White on the first American space-walk, a camera lost by Michael
Collins near Gemini 10 and equipments like pair of pliers, which were lost during STS-120EVA
installation of solar panels.
Space junk makes an impact. IEE Review, 52(1), 40-44.
Most of the space junk has been identified because of the rocket upper stages, which
lands up in the orbit and breaks up into fragments due to the decomposition of unvented and
unburned fuel. A number of boosters have exploded in the space and have been creating a cloud
of junk in the space (Williamson, 2006). Some of the most 2harmful explosions include the
explosion of the Chinese Long March 4 CBERS-1. The explosion occurred on March 11, 2000.
Another explosion took place over South Australia on 19 Feb, 2007. This time it was a Russian
Briz-M booster stage that exploded into the orbit. Within two days of the explosion more than
1000 fragments were identified.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_White_(astronaut)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra-vehicular_activity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(astronaut)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Collins_(astronaut)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_(rocket_family)
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 16
Another failed launch on October 16, 2012 took place while Briz-M broke up while the
launch of Proton-M. It created a cloud of junk in the space however, the exact amount and size of
the junk created by this explosion is unknown till date. A fireball was visible on the evening of
27 July, 2016. It was a Long March 7 rocket booster that created this fireball visible from
California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Its disintegration managed to capture the
attention of a lot of people via social media. The breaking up of three different stages of Altas V
Centaur has broken up in the year 2018-2019.
Orbital Debris Produced by Kinetic-Energy Anti-Satellite Weapons
A major portion of the space junk has been created due to the testing of anti-satellite
weapons (ASAT) by Soviet Union and US during the 1960s and 1970s. The junk caused by the
Soviet tests was identified by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
initially. It was later that the junk created by the US tests was identified. The widespread anti-
satellite weapon testing has increased the junk existing in the space considerably. The ASAT
testing was shut down in the year 1975. It started again with ASM-135 ASAT in the 1980s.
Thousands of junk larger than 1cm in size were created in a test conducted in the year 1985,
which destroyed a 1-tonne satellite orbiting at 326 mi or 525 km. The junk took a decade to
decay by the atmospheric drag (Wright, 2007).
China's anti-satellite weapon test. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
The largest incident in the history of space junk took place in the year 2007. Huge
amount of junk was added to the space, when a Chinese anti-satellite missile test was performed
(Kan, 2007). Nearly 2300 pieces of junk were created with size approximately equal to a golf
Space Junk and Its Impact on Space Stability 17
ball. Apart for this, another 35000 pieces of junk were added to the space by the same test, which
were nearly equal to 1 com in size and more than a million pieces of size 1 mm littered the space.
The target satellite for this test was present in the orbit between 850 Km and 882 Km, which is
the area in space most densely populated with satellites. With slow atmospheric drag at such high
altitudes, it takes decade for the junk to decay or to return back to the earth.
The growing threat of space debris
Another hazardous event, which increased the amount of space junk, was the launch of
SM-3 missile on 20 February 2008. The purpose of this was to destroy a defective US spy
satellite, which carried 450kg of toxic hydrazine propellant. The event occurred at an altitude of
250 km. Since, the satellite was destroyed...