A collision with a spacecraft would be enough to puncture it, and the same would happen to operational satellites, rendering them useless. To solve this problem, NASA is funding a project at the University of Virginia in the US, which proposes a laser system to combat these human objects abandoned in space.
According to scientists and the authors of the idea, a network of lasers powered by artificial intelligence could be a solution for maneuvering and deflecting debris and preventing collisions. Whether it’s a laser system like the one being developed in Virginia or another model that might emerge, something needs to be done to minimize the risk of spacecraft overflight and ensure the satellites are operational because the threat is real. There are currently about nine thousand satellites in low Earth orbit, operating commercial telecommunications systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink and weather satellites, and it is predicted that by 2030 there will be 60 thousand.
Author: Rita Monteiro
Source: CM Jornal
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