Scientists are set to meet in Germany to discuss ways of tackling space debris . It is estimated that there are 6,000 tons of space junk in Earth 's orbit . Space technology company Astrium has devised a plan to harpoon debris . The idea is for the spacecraft to be launched from an aircraft carrier, and then it will fly into space at high speed before crashing onto its target.
Scientists are set to meet in Germany to discuss ways of tackling space debris . It is estimated that there are 6,000 tons of space junk in Earth 's orbit . Space technology company Astrium has devised a plan to harpoon debris . The debris would then be towed towards Earth 's atmosphere , where it would burn up .