Junk Threatens Our Future in Space #space #satellite

The European Space Agency has a warning for us:

Swirling fragments of past space endeavours are trapped in orbit around Earth, threatening our future in space. Over time, the number, mass and area of these debris objects grows steadily, boosting the risk to functioning satellites. ESA

Space seemed so big when Sputnik launched sixty-three years ago this month, even just the bit of space in Earth’s backyard. Tons of objects have been launched since then, and not always with much thought of what would happen when the crafts went defunct.

Collisions and explosions of old batteries and fuel systems have spread debris all around Earth and the situation is getting worse. Search for “space debris around Earth” and you’ll find that videos litter You Tube almost as thickly as junk litters space. Here’s one by NASA:

What if we don’t solve this problem? What if so much junk accumulates that we can’t launch more satellites? Sounds like a great premise for a scifi book, and that’s what I’m working on now. Subscribe to my email and stay updated on my progress, as well as receive offers for free reads.

Or, if all you’d like is a notice when I release a new book, follow me on Amazon. In 2021, join Winnie Bravo, a newly minted junk-sweep pilot, and Orbital Services, LLC.

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