Large satellite constellations could cause greater and more prolonged “space junk” problems than those raised by India’s use of anti-satellite technology to destroy one of its own satellites, according to space debris specialists. About half the existing space junk comes from a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test and an accidental collision in 2009 between two satellites. However, OneWeb and SpaceX have approval to launch nearly 13,000 satellites between them, while Telesat and LeoSat have smaller launch plans. The US Space Surveillance Network is planning Banazadeh, an updated ground-based radar that can detect smaller particles of junk than current technology.
Large satellite constellations could cause greater and more prolonged “space junk” problems than those raised by India’s use of anti-satellite technology to destroy one of its own satellites, according to space debris specialists. About half the existing space junk comes from a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test and an accidental collision in 2009 between two satellites. However, OneWeb and SpaceX have approval to launch nearly 13,000 satellites between them, while Telesat and LeoSat have smaller launch plans. The US Space Surveillance Network is planning Space Fence, an updated ground-based radar that can detect smaller particles of junk than current technology.