Recall that a Proton-M,
which was supposed to deliver in orbit two satellites, could not do so because
of problems in the upper stage. Accident occurred at the beginning of August,
and has since drifted upper stage in low-Earth orbit. But on August 16 he exploded,
creating a cloud of 500 fragments.
According to experts, this is one of the
largest clouds of debris generated in recent years. And, theoretically, in the
future, this debris can collide with the International Space Station.
So far, the plant itself
is not alert and did not change the orbit, but the cloud is taken under special
control in the case of the slightest chance of crossing paths, will be held
emergency avoidance maneuvers. It should be noted that now the station has to
dodge debris, more and more often.
The fact that the space
near Earth space debris just overrun, everyone knows. According to conservative
estimations of experts, is now in orbit about 21,000 fragments of different
satellites.
And this is only the most dangerous of them, whose dimensions
exceed 10 centimeters, and how many flies smaller parts; no one is taken to
say. And yet, the speed at which they move in space makes them no less
dangerous than bullets. Even a small piece of metal flying at a speed of
several kilometers per second, can cause enormous damage. So the ISS and can
really serious danger and the need to track the movement of debris important
than ever.
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