The Irony. ClearSpace-1 Couldn't Clean up Space Debris Because its Target Already Got hit by Space Debris, Creating Even More Space Debris.

The European Space Agency's ClearSpace-1 satellite was zeroing in on the spent payload adaptor from a 2013 rocket launch. Its task would be to extend arms, grab the chunk of debris, hug it tightly, and then pull it back into the Earth's atmosphere, de-orbiting and removing it from low-Earth orbit. On August 10th, mission controllers detected multiple pieces of space debris near its target - debris that was probably dislodged from it in the recent past. They're now scrutinizing the situation to plan their next step in the mission.

#esa #spacejunk #clearspace1

https://www.universetoday.com/162885/the-irony-clearspace-1-couldnt-clean-up-space-debris-because-its-target-already-got-hit-by-space-debris-creating-even-more-space-debris/

Gizmodo: A Space Junk Removal Mission Got Struck By Space Junk https://gizmodo.com/clearspace-1-space-junk-removal-mission-hit-space-junk-1850767761?utm_source=regular #spacesituationalawarenessprogramme #internationalspacestation #disasteraccident #inspaceflight #environment #spacedebris #clearspace1 #pollution #edeorbit #debris

Gizmodo: Animation Depicts Satellite's Final Moments During Groundbreaking 'Assisted' Reentry https://gizmodo.com/animation-depicts-aeolis-satellites-final-moments-1850703594 #spacetrafficmanagement #disasteraccident #atmosphericentry #clearspace1 #spaceflight #environment #spacedebris #timflohrer #admaeolus #pollution #assisted