Launches and Space Propulsion So many countries are launching satellites the orbits are getting filled. It isn’t just the satellites, but the debris from the older ones which are zooming around the earth at incredible speeds. This problem is only going to get worse as it gets cheaper to launch a satellite. Some countries have tried to respond to the problem by developing systems for gathering space junk and old satellites but so far, they have met with little success. I am sure we will eventually succeed, but until then there are many problems to be solved. Can you imagine if a satellite retriever grabs the wrong satellite by mistake and tries to retrieve a country’s secret spy satellite, there would be hell to pay and maybe in an extreme case a war. An estimate of the number of satellites orbiting the earth was made in 2020. The estimate was made by the United Nations under the Index of Objects Launched into outer space. It is claimed there were 5,774 satellites orbiting the earth. The number probably doesn’t take into consideration at least some of the secret satellite launches. This estimate was up to March 2020. There will be even more up there when you read this article. In 2019 the number of launches increased by 30 percent from the year before. The Union of Concerned Scientists states only 3,000 of the satellites are operational. If this is true, we had 2,774 junk satellites up there and the number increases every year. One thing we cannot get accurate information on are secret satellites. We really don’t know how many secret satellites are up there. For years there has been a rumor floating around which states at least one alien satellite is in orbit and has been for an estimated 3,000 years. I don’t know how we would ever know how long it has been circling the earth even it the statement is true? Along with the satellites circling the earth are an estimated 500,000 pieces of debris. This was caused by accidents, weapon’s tests and other things. The sizes range from a fleck of paint to a piece of a rocket or satellite. Even a small nut or bolt could knock out a satellite because it is going so fast it gains an enormous amount of kinetic energy. I would think any system to clean this up would have to employ lasers to dissolve the objects or a system of a vehicle matching the speed of the debris and catching it. One good thing is the size of the components in the satellites are shrinking because of the revolution in electronics allowing for some smaller satellites. Cubesats are being used more often. They are like boxes which are 7.9 inches long, 5.2 inches wide and 3.0 inches tall. Using the miniaturized electrical components, they can perform their tasks better than a huge satellite from years ago. They also usually consume less energy than the older and bigger components. China has been making a concerted effort to become the world’s number one space power. They had the most launches of any country in 2018. There is a list of commercial space launches as of 2019. There have been 339 by America, 117 by Russia and the Soviet Union, but after that the numbers drop significantly. Japan had 12, Germany and China 11, France 10, and many other countries are in single digits. The list includes 32 countries. There is also the European Space Agency or ESA, which has had many launches. A recent article appeared stating the ESA has gotten upset at the fact SpaceX seems to be starting to dominate the field of rocket launches. They launched a study by three companies to try and find out the best way to compete after 2030. I guess Elon Musk has sent cold chills down their collective backs. They seem to be afraid of losing global market share in the launch race. It is true, SpaceX seems at the moment to not only have better technology, but more determination to innovate and pile money back into the company for research. Twenty-two European countries contribute to the ESA and want to be able to stay relevant in the field of space. As the United States progresses in the ability to travel deeper and more efficiently into space, we also make it easier for other countries who can study our successful methods and adopt them to their programs. It is sort of a game of follow the leader right now, with China wanting to be the heir to this heritage. It is a shame we all couldn’t work together because if we did, we would probably even be further ahead. One of the weaknesses we have is the lack of sufficient propulsion. Some say we have solved that problem but the answer is locked into what are known as Black Programs. These are the secret programs which are funded every year and are top secret. I don’t know if this is true, but one thing I do know is we have just funded three design concepts for reactors which could power our spaceships in the future. These would lead to nuclear thermal propulsion systems. These systems would use a fission reactor and hopefully one day be able to convert that to fusion. While still not fast enough for comfortable travel in the solar system they would cut the time for a trip to Mars to 3 or 4 months. The real dream of NASA is a warp drive and that concept is still being studied. A Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre believed this was possible. There have been many other studies for quicker space travel and one which has been talked about is an antimatter engine. Then there was talk about using an anti-gravity engine. Some believe this is another device which we have which is also locked into a secret Black Program. One would think the simplest would be the Solar Sail concept. This is where a ship is sent into space and unfurls a solar sail to catch the solar wind, which are particles sent out from the sun. It is said the craft could have a potential speed of 130 million miles per hour. Another interesting project which was proposed was called the Vacuum to Antimatter Rocket Interstellar Explorer System. It also used sails and collected particles from the solar wind, but used the particles to power very powerful lasers which would be used to create anti-matter which could then be used as fuel. A breakthrough is coming but it might be in baby steps at the beginning, but eventually we will conquer the speed problem at least for getting around the solar system.
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