Solving Earth’s Space Debris Crisis With Magnets
Similar to waste management concerns here on earth is the space debris crisis currently happening above our atmosphere. Traveling at speeds in excess of 17,500 mph, NASA reports over 27,000 pieces of space debris currently orbiting earth with a radius greater than 8”. These and other smaller pieces of space debris are direct threats to satellite and spacecraft operations, given the intense speed they are traveling.
Research led by Jake Abbot, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Utah, theorizes the use of spinning magnets as an effective method of manipulating orbital debris. With the goal of maneuvering space debris into what’s known as “deep space” or towards earth at such speeds that the debris would burn up before entering our atmosphere, Abbot notes this “form of dexterous manipulation has never been done before.”
At its core, the hope is to control non-magnetized, metallic objects through the use of spinning magnets. This process would subsequently subject these metallic objects to a magnetic field, transforming the junk into electromagnets with the ability to produce torque and force. In short, a robotic arm could directly manipulate these objects without ever touching them. If the theory proves to be a success, this highly sophisticated method of removing space junk would change the industry forever, resulting in a safer space for current and future exploration.