Japan space scientists plan to pull junk out of orbit [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Japan space scientists plan to pull junk out of orbit
Source: AFP | January 17, 2014, Friday | Print Edition


Japanese space scientists are to trial a tether they hope will help pull junk out of orbit around Earth, clearing up planetary clutter, they said yesterday.

Researchers at The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have developed what they called an electrodynamic tether made from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium.

One end of the strip will be attached to one of the thousands of dead satellites or bits of rocket jamming up space and endangering working equipment.

Electricity generated by the tether as it swings through the Earth’s magnetic field is expected to have a slowing effect on the space junk, which should, scientists say, pull it into a lower and lower orbit until it enters the Earth’s atmosphere, burning up harmlessly.


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