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New Calculation Finds we are close to the Kessler Syndrome [video]

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93 points cratermoon | 2 comments | 20 Nov 24 20:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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Oarch ◴[20 Nov 24 22:06 UTC] No.42198603[source]▶
There might be a cool storyline where we have to use enormous ground based lasers to clean up and start again.

Could even look a bit like the iconic Gibraltar WW2 search lights photographs.

replies(1): >>42198719 #
jcgrillo ◴[20 Nov 24 22:19 UTC] No.42198719[source]▶
What would zapping a satellite with a laser achieve? I suppose if you get it hot enough to melt everything, without anything flying off, then it would turn into a spherical drop of molten scrap... but then what?
replies(2): >>42198744 #>>42198992 #
ZYbCRq22HbJ2y7 ◴[20 Nov 24 22:23 UTC] No.42198744[source]▶
I assume the poster means to change its trajectory.
replies(1): >>42198911 #
1. sfink ◴[20 Nov 24 22:44 UTC] No.42198911[source]▶
By adding energy (and momentum)? That seems unlikely to work. I guess you could try to shoot at things headed towards you over the horizon, to slow things down?

I was assuming it was to vaporize things to make the re-condensed remnants small and dispersed enough to be less of a problem. Though that seems like a tough problem if you have to stay trained on an orbiting bolt for any length of time, as the atmosphere wobbles your laser around.

replies(1): >>42199602 #
2. titzer ◴[21 Nov 24 00:12 UTC] No.42199602[source]▶
Well the targeting angle could be low to the horizon, aiming into oncoming debris, reducing its orbital velocity, so that it deorbits faster. The vertical component of the vector would be minimized. A low angle reduces laser efficiency due to more atmospheric interference, but oblique enough it would work. Nearly all man-made satellites (and space junk) orbit in the direction of Earth's rotation because of launch boost, which makes this easier.