Space junk cleaner first tested in orbit

The ELSA-d (End-of-Life Services by Astroscale demonstration) system was launched into orbit on March 22. The cleaner itself weighs 175 kg. Together with him on

Earth's orbit was launched by a debris model — a 17-kilogram cube-shaped satellite with a magnetic docking plate.During the experiment, the operators of the ground center remotely opened the locking mechanism and caught the "garbage satellite" with the main module.

The two machines are held together by a system of special magnets that are designed to collect garbage.The "cleaner" then released the model debris again and so on several times.During the demonstration, Astroscale engineers tested and  calibrated the proximity sensors.They are the ones that ensure the safe approach of the capturing objects.

Astroscale said more complex tests will be carried out in the coming months. Over the entire time, people have launched more than 11,000 satellites into orbit, and millions of debris of different sizes orbit the Earth. 

To read Further

A spaceship several kilometers away: everything that is known about China's new project

COVID-19 mutates, and vaccines are modernized: how to deal with new strains

A supercapacitor the size of a speck of dust has appeared: it is 3 thousand times smaller than its analogues