2.Solutions
The causes of space debris can be generally divided into two — the first being debris resulting from damaged satellites, or from explosions caused by fuel leaks, and the second being satellites colliding with one another.
SOLUTION No.1
When a satellite is at the stage when it will deteriorate and gradually break up, all remaining fuel should be disposed of so that explosions do not occur over the course of time, destroying the satellite. International rules are currently being formulated to address the end cycle of satellites.
SOLUTION No.2
As satellites continue to be launched resulting in space around the Earth becoming more crowded, collisions between artificial satellites will become inevitable. Therefore, activities are in progress to require mandatory full reporting regarding the orbits of launched satellites, and to maintain communications with the American space station that track artificial satellites so that, if a collision appears likely, the orbit of the satellites in question can be slightly altered to reduce the chance of collision.
Technologies to recover space debris have yet to be developed. Global space authorities such as JAXA and NASA have progressed no further than carrying out research and surveys, and have yet to embark on actual removal of space debris.
Focusing on this issue, ASTROSCALE has embarked on the first initiative in the private sector — the “IDEA OSG 1” mission.