We’ve launched thousands of spacecraft over the years. And as the space junk around our planet builds up, researchers are working on ways to clean things up using some obvious things, like lasers, and some less obvious ones, like solar sails.
Hosted By: Hank Green
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Sources:
https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Space_Debris/Setting_sail_for_sustainable_space
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Ultra-thin_sail_could_speed_journey_to_other_star_systems
https://www.space.com/light-sail-2-solar-sail-still-flying-planetary-society
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/solarsail/index.html
Previous episodes:
Images:
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/the-space-shuttle-lifts-off-from-the-launch-pad-stock-footage/1304191473
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Debris-GEO1280.jpg
https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/photo-gallery/
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/space-debris-around-planet-earth-stock-footage/1309135881?adppopup=true
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:STS-118_debris_entry.jpg
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/space-junk-orbiting-earth-stock-footage/488829648?adppopup=true
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/galactic-trash-orbiting-earth-royalty-free-image/1125629273?adppopup=true
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9A%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B%D2%9B_%D2%9B%D0%BE%D2%9B%D1%8B%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laser_broom_(artistic).jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cleanspace_One_chasser.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_Sail_(14914129324).jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IKAROS_solar_sail.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LightSail_2_Deployment_Test.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LightSail_2.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LightSail_2_with_deployed_solar_sail.png
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_sail_tests.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NanoSail-D_in_orbit_(artist_depiction).jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jules_Verne_Automated_Transfer_Vehicle_re-enters_Earth%27s_atmosphere.jpg
https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/small_spacecraft/ACS3
https://www.nasa.gov/launching-science-and-technology/solar-sail-test-will-study-near-earth-asteroid