Giant Magnetic Space Net

[astroman]

I hope you everyone finds this as amazing as I do!

 

"Next month, Japan’s space agency (JAXA) will launch a space trawler — a spacecraft that will drag a giant aluminium and steel net while orbiting Earth, hoping to bag itself some space junk."
 

 

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/175230-japan-is-preparing-to-launch-a-giant-magnetic-net-that-will-trawl-space-for-junk

 

I find almost everything space related to be incredibly interesting but I thought you all should be informed about this topic. It's a "restorer" for my faith in humanity  .

[Kilerbomb]

I'm pretty much the same way. Anything about space fascinates me. And this is pretty cool!

[wpirobotbuilder]

Lots of space junk is small pieces, I wonder how fine the mesh is.

[Imabigmac]

This sounds ridiculous and would appear to have many problems surrounding it. 

[astroman]

It does sound a little far-fetched but I'm sure they didn't just strap a net to a rocket and call it good

[xrex64]

That's like catching millions of sniper bullets...

[joelthezombie15]

Thats pretty cool assuming it all goes according to plan. 

[Imaginaerum]

I thought I read NASA made some garbage-collector thing a while ago, but it didn't sound as encompassing as a net.

[JAKEBAB]

that is awesome!!!!!!! now all we need is to use this type of thing to carry materials from planet to planet like on futurama

[dalekphalm]

This sounds ridiculous and would appear to have many problems surrounding it. 

Can you elaborate on this?

 

I think it makes a lot of sense compared to other proposed methods. Yes there are challenges, but it's a step in the right direction.

[helping]

Maybe we should jettison more junk into space to help block out the sun a bit

 

 

because it was 38f last night in Florida and I'll be damned if I have to keep sitting through this kind of heat. 

[Imabigmac]

Can you elaborate on this?

 

I think it makes a lot of sense compared to other proposed methods. Yes there are challenges, but it's a step in the right direction.

We don't get the stuff back and its a lot of material to make a net just to burn it up, unless of course its a big "net" capable of capturing a lot of material, but its kinda hard to control the spacecraft when it has to fly faster or in the opposite direction of the space junk and right into the space junks orbital paths. That and it will probably catch working satellites. 

[blaze124]

how are they going to dodge the satellites and other instruments we are using for space exploration, GPS, ect 

[dalekphalm]

We don't get the stuff back and its a lot of material to make a net just to burn it up, unless of course its a big "net" but kinda hard to control the spacecraft when it has to fly faster or in the opposite direction of the space junk and right into the space junks orbital paths. That and it will probably catch working satellites. 

It's true that the plan is for the debris to burn up in orbit, but

 

1. That debris is up there anyway and not doing anything for us

2. Space debris is a legitimate safety concern

3. If left unchecked, it will make leaving the atmosphere literally impossible eventually

 

#3 is the real kicker. Whether we want to admit it or not, space exploration is essential to scientific progression and the development of new technologies that eventually get used in every day life. Not to mention how utterly important satellite communications are to modern society.

[dalekphalm]

how are they going to dodge the satellites and other instruments we are using for space exploration, GPS, ect 

The net is guided and has propulsion. Orbit has different "zones" in it, one of which is the graveyard orbit. This is where they park a lot of the space junk. Presumably, they simply won't drive the net into any space that has active satellite orbits.

[Imabigmac]

It's true that the plan is for the debris to burn up in orbit, but

 

1. That debris is up there anyway and not doing anything for us

2. Space debris is a legitimate safety concern

3. If left unchecked, it will make leaving the atmosphere literally impossible eventually

 

#3 is the real kicker. Whether we want to admit it or not, space exploration is essential to scientific progression and the development of new technologies that eventually get used in every day life. Not to mention how utterly important satellite communications are to modern society.

Agreed on some points but there is still problems with idea. 

[dalekphalm]

Agreed on some points but there is still problems with idea. 

Personally I think the idea is a good start. I hope the eventual design that evolves is a magnetic space net that - rather then de-orbiting - is collected and all that scrap metal and debris can be recycled, melted down, etc. Heck if someone set up an orbital manufacturing centre (Not likely for some time, but I believe inevitable, especially for space vehicle construction), then they could collect space debris for resources and material.

[sysloc]

It's true that the plan is for the debris to burn up in orbit, but

1. That debris is up there anyway and not doing anything for us

2. Space debris is a legitimate safety concern

3. If left unchecked, it will make leaving the atmosphere literally impossible eventually

#3 is the real kicker. Whether we want to admit it or not, space exploration is essential to scientific progression and the development of new technologies that eventually get used in every day life. Not to mention how utterly important satellite communications are to modern society.

1: WALL-E

2: WALL-E

3: WALL-E

[atomicmonkey101]

I would laugh so hard if they found secret united states technologies.

[TheProfosist]

Lots of space junk is small pieces, I wonder how fine the mesh is.

And lots of space junk is HUGE pieces.

[Humbug]

Personally I think the idea is a good start. I hope the eventual design that evolves is a magnetic space net that - rather then de-orbiting - is collected and all that scrap metal and debris can be recycled, melted down, etc.

And if's not worth salvaging send it to the sun.

[HexaGuy]

Considering that the average speed of debris orbiting the Earth at a low Earth orbit is around 7-8 Kilometers per second, I wonder how the space net will be able to catch these pieces of junk without damaging itself. Even if it uses a magnetic system, the magnet would have to be very strong in order to suddenly or gradually stop pieces of junk. Anyhow, I'm sure these Japanese scientists have it all worked out. ;P

[astroman]

Considering that the average speed of debris orbiting the Earth at a low Earth orbit is around 7-8 Kilometers per second, I wonder how the space net will be able to catch these pieces of junk without damaging itself. Even if it uses a magnetic system, the magnet would have to be very strong in order to suddenly or gradually stop pieces of junk. Anyhow, I'm sure these Japanese scientists have it all worked out. ;P

 

Ya most of the engineering that comes out of Japan is pretty spectacular. They'll probably not try to catch the debris traveling the opposite direction in order to save the net from it's full velocity. They'll probably try to catch it by traveling the same direction or within 30 degrees.

[dalekphalm]

Considering that the average speed of debris orbiting the Earth at a low Earth orbit is around 7-8 Kilometers per second, I wonder how the space net will be able to catch these pieces of junk without damaging itself. Even if it uses a magnetic system, the magnet would have to be very strong in order to suddenly or gradually stop pieces of junk. Anyhow, I'm sure these Japanese scientists have it all worked out. ;P

Yeah as Astroman said, I HIGHLY doubt they would try to approach the debris head on, or even stationary. Most likely they would send the drone in and match average orbital speeds (maybe slightly faster or slower). Or as he suggested, have it pass through the orbital plane at a slight angle.

 

Ya most of the engineering that comes out of Japan is pretty spectacular. They'll probably not try to catch the debris traveling the opposite direction in order to save the net from it's full velocity. They'll probably try to catch it by traveling the same direction or within 30 degrees.

[ofr057]

isnt the EU planning on doing this soon also?