How AI and Robotics Could Tackle Space Debris Challenges
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Chapter 1: The Growing Threat of Space Debris
The issue of space debris has become an increasing concern for scientists and space agencies worldwide. The remnants of discarded rocket bodies represent some of the largest debris pieces, as they descend into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) under the influence of Earth's gravity. Additionally, tiny paint flecks, remnants from explosions or collisions, and leftover components further complicate the situation.
Operational satellite managers frequently encounter close calls with debris. The European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, employs specialists dedicated to monitoring the risk of potential collisions. When a possible threat is detected, these experts are mobilized to prepare for any necessary collision avoidance maneuvers, a process that involves reallocation of resources at the Centre to facilitate these critical adjustments.
Section 1.1: The Increasing Traffic in Space
It's not solely debris that poses a challenge; the rise in satellite launches by corporations and governments has led to heightened traffic in space, increasing the likelihood of collisions. The Space Agency reports that nearly half of the alerts they track involve small satellites and constellation spacecraft.
Subsection 1.1.1: How AI Can Help
To address these challenges, the European Space Agency (ESA) has reached out to the global artificial intelligence (AI) community, urging the use of available data to train AI systems in making collision predictions. The goal is to alleviate the burden of identifying potential collisions while also automating parts of the decision-making process.
Ultimately, the AI will be equipped to recognize when a collision avoidance maneuver is necessary and will communicate this to the human operators. Given that the available data is somewhat limited, additional training methodologies, such as deep learning and neural networks, are also being considered to enhance the AI’s decision-making accuracy.
The first video discusses a new robot designed to tackle the critical issue of space debris, illustrating how technology can help clean up hazardous 'space junk.'
Section 1.2: Current Statistics on Space Debris
As we look to the future, there's a possibility of developing systems akin to aircraft avoidance technologies that can autonomously adjust trajectories without human intervention. For the time being, however, specialists will leverage AI to assist in identifying potential collisions, while the final decisions will remain in human hands.
Fun fact: Among the 11,370 satellites launched since 1957, approximately 6,900 continue to orbit the Earth, yet only about 4,000 are operational. The remainder constitutes space debris.
The second video highlights a junk-grabbing robot set to clean up space debris, showcasing innovative approaches to maintaining a sustainable orbital environment.