Space above Earth turns crowded with hazards. Nonfunctional satellites, final-stage rocket bodies, even paint flakes clutter orbits. This junk endangers active satellites. Now, international researchers collaborate to spot debris over Australasia.
Associate Professor David Coward from International Space Center at University of Western Australia leads efforts. He joined discussions earlier, highlighting problem scale. Known large pieces number around 40,000.
These include defunct satellites, near-end-life satellites, rocket boosters. Smaller items like paint flecks pose risks too. Cataloged objects give rough locations, but tiny uncataloged bits remain unknown. Even 1 cm debris can destroy satellites.
To combat this, team partners with Polish Space Agency. Agency seeks southern hemisphere surveillance tools. Debris orbits globally, needing worldwide coverage. Single-country detectors fall short.
“Australia’s rapidly growing sovereign reliance on space is providing new opportunities and challenges and it is becoming critical to know what’s in orbit above Australia,” Coward said.
Coward added, “The space above Earth is becoming increasingly dangerous due to space debris – consisting of non-functional satellites, rocket bodies and even flakes of paint – which pose an increasing threat to orbiting spacecraft.”
Australia offers wide longitudinal span in south, ideal for monitoring. Polish agency approached University of Western Australia to install equipment. Focus covers southern sky satellites. Project develops methods to identify uncataloged objects.
“This project allows us to combine Australia’s advanced observational facilities with Poland’s expertise in space surveillance,” Mieczkowska said. “It’s exciting to contribute to building international collaboration while helping develop new capabilities for monitoring the space environment.”
Once tracked, what next? Space junk follows United Nations mitigation guidelines, not strict laws. No body enforces against space pollution. Guidelines urge decommissioning satellites at life end, moving them higher via thruster motors. Modern satellites often carry these.
“This is the first time Western Australia has hosted a space event with the Polish Space Agency,” Coward said. “Space really is a place where all countries can work together.”
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