Could Space Debris Threaten Future Missions?
Image Credit: MIT News
China’s Tiangong space station experienced a partial loss of power due to a debris strike, highlighting growing concerns over space debris management procedures. The incident occurred during the Shenzhou 17 mission, prompting the Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSA) to announce plans for enhanced measures to safeguard against future debris-related issues.
According to state media sources, astronauts on the Shenzhou 17 mission conducted two successful spacewalks outside the Tiangong space station earlier this winter, with the most recent one taking place on March 1. However, Chinese media noted a partial loss of power supply following a debris strike on the station’s solar panels.
In a press conference reported by Xinhua, CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang acknowledged that the space station’s core module, Tianhe, suffered from a partial loss of power due to the impact on the solar wing’s power cables. The incident underscores the significant threat posed by space debris, which can originate from both natural sources like micrometeoroids and human activities in space.
The precise origin of the debris remains unclear, as Xinhua did not specify whether it was natural or human-generated. This ambiguity reflects broader concerns shared by space agencies worldwide, including the International Space Station (ISS), which regularly encounters similar challenges.
The proliferation of human-generated orbital debris is a growing issue, with over 43,000 tracked space objects by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as of April 2024. Additionally, there are more than 7,500 active satellites, including those from SpaceX’s Starlink broadband megaconstellation, according to the Union for Concerned Scientists.
In response to these challenges, ISS controllers have had to maneuver the station more than 30 times since its inception in 1998 to avoid potential collisions with debris. Strict guidelines dictate that any debris within a designated “pizza box” area around the ISS necessitates evasive action to ensure crew safety and station integrity.
Similarly, China’s Tiangong space station has executed maneuvers to evade space debris impacts, as reported by Xinhua. Lin Xiqiang emphasized that the CMSA is implementing several measures to mitigate future risks, particularly given the critical role of the Tianhe core module, which launched in 2021.
Moving forward, CMSA plans to enhance its space debris monitoring and avoidance protocols to safeguard astronauts and critical infrastructure in orbit. The incident underscores the broader challenges facing space agencies in managing orbital debris and highlights the urgent need for international collaboration on space sustainability initiatives.
As space activities continue to expand, ensuring the safety and sustainability of orbital environments remains a top priority for the global space community.
As reported by Space.com in their recent article
