NASA
What is the current state of space debris around Earth according to NASA?
According to NASA's estimate, there are approximately 500,000 pieces of space debris currently orbiting Earth, with some traveling at an astonishing speed of 17,500 miles per hour. This already concerning situation could worsen, as the amount of space debris may increase by up to 20% in the near future. The potential collision between a defunct Soviet satellite and a Chinese rocket booster represents a significant threat that could substantially contribute to this increase, highlighting the growing problem of orbital debris that poses risks to global communications and satellite functionality.
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WION
00:36 - 00:55
What is the current state of space debris around Earth according to NASA?
According to NASA's estimate, there are approximately 500,000 pieces of space debris currently orbiting Earth. These orbital fragments pose a significant hazard as some are traveling at an astonishing speed of 17,500 miles per hour. At such velocities, even small pieces of debris can cause catastrophic damage to functioning satellites and other space assets essential for global communications and services. This growing cloud of space junk represents an increasing challenge for space operations and future missions.
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WION
00:36 - 00:51
What challenges did Hayabusa2 face during its landings on asteroid Ryugu, and what did it accomplish?
The Hayabusa2 mission encountered greater landing difficulties than anticipated due to Ryugu's extremely rocky surface. Despite these challenges, the spacecraft successfully completed two separate sample collection operations: the first gathering material from the asteroid's surface, and the second collecting underground samples, with each stored in separate compartments. Following initial examinations by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), these valuable samples will undergo comprehensive analysis in Japan before being shared with NASA and other international research groups. This collaborative approach will maximize scientific insights from these rare extraterrestrial materials, potentially providing crucial information about the early solar system.
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WION
03:14 - 03:49