JAKARTA – Scientists have recently revealed plans to turn space debris or debris in Earth’s orbit into rocket fuel and set up ‘gas stations in outer space’.
The project will involve a satellite capturing chunks of space debris, which travels at speeds of up to 17,000 mph, before being stored and then cut up using advanced robotics.
A chamber foundry currently under development would then melt the debris into metal rods, which in turn would be used as rocket fuel for the ‘electric propulsion system in space’.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), as quoted Dailymail, states there are about 9,200 tons of space debris now floating aimlessly above Earth. This debris can pose a hazard to astronauts if they hit it.
A few weeks ago, a member or crew of astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) was forced to take emergency action after Russia’s ‘reckless and irresponsible’ weapons tests resulted in more than 1,500 pieces of debris in earth orbit.
If this project is really successful, it will be very effective in the future, if the satellite debris can be used as rocket fuel.
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