Clean up orbit first, then we can think about space factories, says FCC
(2022/08/08)
- Reference: 1659969907
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/08/08/orbital_cleanup_space_factories/
- Source link:
The US Federal Communications Commission is looking at how it can help kickstart manufacturing in space, but said orbital debris needs to be addressed first.
In a meeting held August 5, the FCC voted unanimously (4-0) to open proceedings on in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) to examine what sort of opportunities and challenges would be created by moving some industrial processes above Earth.
ISAM, the agency said in a [1]statement , "has the potential to build entire industries, create new jobs, mitigate climate change, and advance America's economic, scientific, technological, and national security interests."
[2]
The FCC's notice of inquiry will look into uses of ISAM including in-flight satellite refueling, inspections and repairs of orbital spacecraft, "transforming materials through manufacturing while in space," and debris removal, something that FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel [3]said is essential to promoting safety and responsibility in space.
[4]
[5]
"There are thousands of metric tons of junk in space that if left unaddressed will constrain those new opportunities in the skies above and ISAM could help improve this environment," Rosenworcel said in a statement.
Space debris stands to be a serious impediment to orbital activity in the near future. Millions of chunks of different sizes are whizzing round Earth, and even the smallest have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to other spacecraft.
[6]
[7]According to NASA , debris in Earth's orbit travels at speeds of up to 17,500mph (28,163kph). The agency notes that objects as small and fragile as paint flecks have had enough force behind them to damage space shuttle windows.
"In fact, millimeter-sized orbital debris represents the highest mission-ending risk to most robotic spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit," NASA said.
The agency added that there are approximately 100 million pieces of orbital debris measuring about a millimeter.
[8]India's latest rocket flies but payloads don't prosper
[9]South Korea's lunar orbiter launches and phones home happily
[10]ESA declares the Sentinel-1B mission over after payload resuscitation ends
[11]NASA to send prototype robot surgeon into space
FCC commissioner Nathan Simington expressed concern over orbital debris, [12]saying in a statement that, as the FCC is considering updates to its space debris rules (last updated in [13]2020 ), it was crucial to ensure similar rules apply to ISAM and other space operations. In particular, Simington said the FCC needs to plan now for how to deal with debris created by ISAM operations.
The FCC's role in space rule making involves anything to do with communications from space to a ground site in the US, including making rules to help satellites avoid damage due to orbital debris.
[14]
The FCC said its ISAM strategy dovetails with the Office of Science and Technology Policy's [15]ISAM National Strategy [PDF], as well as being part of the commission's broader efforts at updating its rules "for the new space age." As part of that update, the FCC is also looking at its satellite rules and ensuring satellite companies have access to newly allocated spectrums while testing new spacecraft.
Earlier last week, the FCC freed up additional spectrum in the 17GHz band "to support the growing demand for space-based services," and is working to clear a path for satellites to operate in the 50.4-51.4GHz range, Rosenworcel said. Additionally, the FCC's division responsible for "satellite matters" has had its headcount increased by 38 percent "to keep up with it all," Rosenworcel added.
"No one imagined commercial space tourism taking hold, no one believed crowd-funded satellites and mega constellations at low Earth orbit were possible, and no one could have conceived of the sheer popularity of space entrepreneurship. But it's all happening," Rosenworcel said. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space/rosenworcel-statement
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/08/indias_sslv_satellite_unusable_orbit/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/05/ground_comms_established_with_south/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/03/bye_bye_sentinel_1b/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/03/iss_robot_surgeon/
[12] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space/simington-statement
[13] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-orbital-debris-mitigation-rules-new-space-age-0
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04-2022-ISAM-National-Strategy-Final.pdf
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
In a meeting held August 5, the FCC voted unanimously (4-0) to open proceedings on in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) to examine what sort of opportunities and challenges would be created by moving some industrial processes above Earth.
ISAM, the agency said in a [1]statement , "has the potential to build entire industries, create new jobs, mitigate climate change, and advance America's economic, scientific, technological, and national security interests."
[2]
The FCC's notice of inquiry will look into uses of ISAM including in-flight satellite refueling, inspections and repairs of orbital spacecraft, "transforming materials through manufacturing while in space," and debris removal, something that FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel [3]said is essential to promoting safety and responsibility in space.
[4]
[5]
"There are thousands of metric tons of junk in space that if left unaddressed will constrain those new opportunities in the skies above and ISAM could help improve this environment," Rosenworcel said in a statement.
Space debris stands to be a serious impediment to orbital activity in the near future. Millions of chunks of different sizes are whizzing round Earth, and even the smallest have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to other spacecraft.
[6]
[7]According to NASA , debris in Earth's orbit travels at speeds of up to 17,500mph (28,163kph). The agency notes that objects as small and fragile as paint flecks have had enough force behind them to damage space shuttle windows.
"In fact, millimeter-sized orbital debris represents the highest mission-ending risk to most robotic spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit," NASA said.
The agency added that there are approximately 100 million pieces of orbital debris measuring about a millimeter.
[8]India's latest rocket flies but payloads don't prosper
[9]South Korea's lunar orbiter launches and phones home happily
[10]ESA declares the Sentinel-1B mission over after payload resuscitation ends
[11]NASA to send prototype robot surgeon into space
FCC commissioner Nathan Simington expressed concern over orbital debris, [12]saying in a statement that, as the FCC is considering updates to its space debris rules (last updated in [13]2020 ), it was crucial to ensure similar rules apply to ISAM and other space operations. In particular, Simington said the FCC needs to plan now for how to deal with debris created by ISAM operations.
The FCC's role in space rule making involves anything to do with communications from space to a ground site in the US, including making rules to help satellites avoid damage due to orbital debris.
[14]
The FCC said its ISAM strategy dovetails with the Office of Science and Technology Policy's [15]ISAM National Strategy [PDF], as well as being part of the commission's broader efforts at updating its rules "for the new space age." As part of that update, the FCC is also looking at its satellite rules and ensuring satellite companies have access to newly allocated spectrums while testing new spacecraft.
Earlier last week, the FCC freed up additional spectrum in the 17GHz band "to support the growing demand for space-based services," and is working to clear a path for satellites to operate in the 50.4-51.4GHz range, Rosenworcel said. Additionally, the FCC's division responsible for "satellite matters" has had its headcount increased by 38 percent "to keep up with it all," Rosenworcel added.
"No one imagined commercial space tourism taking hold, no one believed crowd-funded satellites and mega constellations at low Earth orbit were possible, and no one could have conceived of the sheer popularity of space entrepreneurship. But it's all happening," Rosenworcel said. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space/rosenworcel-statement
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/08/indias_sslv_satellite_unusable_orbit/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/05/ground_comms_established_with_south/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/03/bye_bye_sentinel_1b/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/03/iss_robot_surgeon/
[12] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-opens-proceeding-servicing-assembly-manufacturing-space/simington-statement
[13] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-orbital-debris-mitigation-rules-new-space-age-0
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YvEzIAbTBDhx9Fn4djRsUgAAAIw&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04-2022-ISAM-National-Strategy-Final.pdf
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Something for the Playlist?
ComputerSays_noAbsolutelyNo
Planetes - an anime series devoted to space debries
In the year 2075, mankind has reached a point where journeying between Earth, the moon and the space stations is part of daily life. However, the progression of technology in space has also resulted in the problem of the space debris, which can cause excessive and even catastrophic damage to spacecrafts and equipment. This is the story of Technora's Debris Collecting section, its EVA worker, Hachirota "Hachimaki" Hoshino, and the newcomer to the group, Ai Tanabe.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816398/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
-> I'll put my space suit on
Big problem with limited solutions
'Cleaning up the orbit' is all well and good to say, but how do you clear 100 million pieces of 1mm-size debris, not to mention however many more smaller ones?? Can't vacuum them up, catch them in nets, can't even locate them, and to catch them you have to match their speed even if you could find them (which, for the smaller ones, you anyway can't).
My wacky idea is some sort of high-expansion quick-setting foam - spray it from a small can into a large blob and push it into a slow-ish orbit on the path you want to clear. The idea is that the relative speed of debris is small enough that it won't punch through but get trapped inside, and the slow-ish orbit means it will eventually de-orbit itself (or the large size means it can be externally manipulated). That sort of assumes that most objects are orbiting in the same direction (which is mostly the case for parent satellites so should mostly be the same for debris).
Of course, space is Huuuuge, even just the narrow shell of the useful orbital plane, but given that rocketeers can insert a satellite into a very precise orbital position, whose launch, trajectory etc are probably known years in advance, it should be possible to clear the path from some of the debris ahead of the satellite's launch