Earth may soon have rings like Saturn due to space debris

We have a huge space debris problem - and it will only get worse as more companies and governments launch satellites, spacecraft, probes and even tourists into space.

While some of what humanity sends into orbit eventually collapses and returns to Earth's atmosphere to burn up, most remains in orbit - and until humans have figured out anything that could be done to somehow improve the situation.

According to the European Space Agency, there are already about 170 million pieces of space debris in orbit over a millimeter in size. Approximately 670,000 of them are over a centimeter in size.

With companies like SpaceX launching their huge constellations of satellites, our planet's orbit is loaded more than ever. This means that we may also be at greater risk of collisions between satellites and other space objects, which could create more space debris, and thus the situation turns into a vicious circle.

Now scientists are trying to figure out how to solve this problem. Professor Jake Abbott of the University of Utah believes that one way to handle space debris could be using magnets.

By using electromagnets with the power and parameters required to operate in space, it is possible to capture and control individual pieces of space debris, describes Professor Abbott in a recent article published in the journal Nature.

He says that he and his team worked on experiments with this proposal and even created a similar magnet in simulated conditions: “Basically, we have a first-of-a-kind solution to this problem. Now it's just a matter of technique. All that remains is to build and put into operation of the necessary facilities ".

A source: nature, futurism, wonderfulengineering