Hubble's Space Junk Danger
By Helen Potter
Climate change may not only be an issue for us here on Earth - those of you planning to escape rising sea levels by heading into space might want to have a rethink.
Whilst increased carbon dioxide levels warm the lower atmosphere, it has the opposite effect on the outer atmosphere, known as the thermosphere. A cooled thermosphere will become less dense, increasing the risk of 'space junk' hitting orbiting craft such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station, since it will take longer for debris to disintegrate.
Scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research have predicted that the thermosphere will be 3% less dense by 2017 at current levels of carbon dioxide emissions. This is good news for satellites and spacecraft in use, as the reduced atmospheric drag leads to longer operational lifetimes. The downside is that old satellites and other debris will remain in the upper atmosphere longer, increasing the risk of collisions.
Find out more about Helen and read more of her articles here.
Whilst increased carbon dioxide levels warm the lower atmosphere, it has the opposite effect on the outer atmosphere, known as the thermosphere. A cooled thermosphere will become less dense, increasing the risk of 'space junk' hitting orbiting craft such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station, since it will take longer for debris to disintegrate.
Scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research have predicted that the thermosphere will be 3% less dense by 2017 at current levels of carbon dioxide emissions. This is good news for satellites and spacecraft in use, as the reduced atmospheric drag leads to longer operational lifetimes. The downside is that old satellites and other debris will remain in the upper atmosphere longer, increasing the risk of collisions.
Find out more about Helen and read more of her articles here.
Image: NASA
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