Saturday 4/20/2024
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Last update 8:21
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, known as NASA, revealed that on February 28, 2024, a collision was about to occur that would have caused a catastrophic chain reaction for humanity. A Russian satellite that was drifting “brushed” against an American satellite.
According to Pam Melroy, deputy administrator of the US government agency and former astronaut, if the satellites had collided, it would have created millions of hypersonic particles that would have endangered the lives of astronauts and space stations. Furthermore, it could have ruined vital infrastructure for humanity.
“We were terrified,” said Melroy, who also stated that the situation was “shocking” for everyone at NASA. The statements were made within the framework of the Space Foundation’s Space Symposium, which took place in Colorado this week.
If this had happened, it would have caused what is known as Kessler syndrome.
There, the former astronaut explained what generated so much fear and what consequences the planet was saved from. “If the two satellites had collided, we would have seen the generation of shrapnel [hipersónica]small fragments that travel at 16,000 kilometers per hour and can punch a hole in another spacecraft and potentially put human lives at risk,” he said.
If this had happened, it would have caused what is known as Kessler syndrome. This theory states that, given a certain density of objects in orbit, a collision between two elements can cause a chain reaction that brings down most or all of the space infrastructure, generating a blackout of essential services for the operation of space. the society.
In the most complex scenario, the syndrome would cancel any possibility of traveling to space. In any case, taking into account the danger that the planet faced in the month of February, NASA could not do anything about it, since it was impossible to move either of the two satellites.
The situation was “shocking” for all members of NASA.
How was the episode
On February 28 of this year, the Russian Cosmos 2221 satellite deviated to approach extreme proximity to NASA’s TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) satellite. It plays an important role in monitoring the Earth’s atmosphere, but it cannot be maneuvered.
The episode demonstrated the risks of space debris. Even the US agency recently announced its Space Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive plan that aims to optimize the tracking, monitoring and management of satellites and orbital debris. This also aims to develop technologies to be able to perform collision avoidance maneuvers.
However, to carry out this strategy it is important to take two measures:
End the invasion of unnecessary commercial space internet networks.
Impose a system of maneuvers, refueling and deorbiting on future satellites.
