{"id":595544,"date":"2026-08-17T01:46:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T01:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/595544\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T01:46:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T01:46:15","slug":"5-bizarre-ways-space-experts-want-to-clean-up-earths-orbit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/595544\/","title":{"rendered":"5 bizarre ways space experts want to clean up Earth\u2019s orbit"},"content":{"rendered":"

An estimated 1.2 million pieces of junk<\/a> larger than 1cm (0.4in) are floating in Earth\u2019s orbit, each of which could cause serious damage if it hit functional space equipment.<\/p>\n

This problem has inspired scientists to propose some pretty weird cleanup solutions.<\/p>\n

Sticky satellites<\/p>\n

Most space debris wasn\u2019t designed to be collected, so docking with it in space is a big challenge. A team of researchers in Germany is working on a solution inspired by the sticky feet of geckos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gecko feet stick to walls because of van der Waals forces \u2013 weak interactions between atoms\u2019 electrical charges. The plan is to launch a satellite with a surface coated in a synthetic, gecko-inspired material that will stick to passing debris.<\/p>\n

\"geckoGeckos’ feet are covered in millions of microscopic hairs that allow them to grip onto almost any dry surface – Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

Alternatively, the sticky material could be attached to a line and cast out, capturing debris like a chameleon\u2019s tongue catches insects. The satellite could then drag the object back into Earth\u2019s atmosphere, where it would burn up on re-entry.<\/p>\n

Robotic tentacles<\/p>\n

Several groups have proposed using robotic<\/a> arms, claws or tentacles to grab space junk in orbit.<\/p>\n

For example, the European Space Agency is developing<\/a> a 500kg (1100lb) craft equipped with four tentacle-like robotic arms. Its mission \u2013 to capture the defunct PROBA-1 satellite \u2013 is scheduled to launch in 2029.<\/p>\n

Space harpoons<\/p>\n

An alternative proposal involves equipping a satellite with a harpoon<\/a>, which can shoot out at 20 metres per second (66 feet per second), skewering space debris with a barbed spear.<\/p>\n

A trial of the system, led by researchers at the University of Surrey<\/a>, successfully harpooned a test target in orbit. Despite this, space harpoons haven\u2019t been deployed to capture real space debris yet.<\/p>\n

Laser cannons<\/p>\n

Rather than going to the trouble of docking with space junk, why not blast it out of orbit?<\/p>\n

In 2015, researchers in Japan proposed<\/a> mounting a 500,000-watt laser on a satellite to patrol low Earth orbit and blast debris into smaller chunks, which would return to Earth more rapidly.<\/p>\n

An alternative solution, researched by NASA in 2011<\/a>, would use a laser on Earth to knock space junk out of the way of working satellites.<\/p>\n

Space lassos<\/p>\n

Engineers didn\u2019t have clean up in mind when they built the satellites in orbit today, but all that could change in the future.<\/p>\n

The Japanese Space Agency have been developing a space lasso<\/a>, also known as an electrodynamic tether, which could be attached to new satellites prior to launch.<\/p>\n

The 700m (almost 2,300ft) conductive cable would be unwound at the end of the satellite\u2019s lifespan and be caught by Earth\u2019s magnetic field<\/a>, dragging the craft to a fiery end on re-entry.<\/p>\n

This article is an answer to the question (asked by Alfie Hughes, Stoke-on-Trent) ‘How can we clean up space junk?’<\/p>\n

To submit your questions, email us at questions@sciencefocus.com, or message our Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, or Instagram<\/a> pages (don’t forget to include your name and location).<\/p>\n

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