Answer by Thorne for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
Why do you need to collect and recycle? You can't be cost effective when you are trying to catch objects that are millimeter sized. There simply isn't enough material there to justify the effort.You...
View ArticleAnswer by LSerni for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
The most important criterion of effectiveness is the ability to remove even small pieces of junk from the orbit and then put them to good use. Small is on the scale of millimetres.Differently sized...
View ArticleAnswer by Amadeus for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
I propose a double light web, and a (quite distant) robotic 'catcher' grid.Things in orbit move in nice predictable orbits, at least in the short term, and are only slightly affected by the gravitation...
View ArticleAnswer by ArtisticPhoenix for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
First before answering the question we first need to consider a few things about space junk.First lets define it:Space debris would be any artificial objects in planetary orbit thatdo not serve a...
View ArticleAnswer by a4android for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
The most effective and efficient way of dealing with space junk is the same for any waste cycle: Keep everything clean and tidy from beginning to end. Cleaning up after the fact is always much, much...
View ArticleAnswer by steverino for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
An answer that will satisfy your OCD engineers requirements is available, but EXPENSIVE.And it will require significant mapping work of the Lagrange points of the gas giant and all of its moons. (You...
View ArticleAnswer by Oleg Lobachev for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
It might be too hard for your target civilisation or take too long, but this is the ultimate approach.Place the moons rightThe idea is to place additional larger satellites – not even asteroid size,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Answer by user44429 for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
Project Rho has this picture:The idea was to suck up the space debris, crush it and shoot it out the back. It was not specified how it was powered but if you can go .1 C you'll probably be able to...
View ArticleAnswer by ZioByte for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
A small fleet of "double net catchers" might do the trick.You need an elongated satellite with two Pac-Man catchers at the extremes.Mareal forces will orient satellite to orbit "standing up" with one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Answer by Willk for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
Space cow magnet.This would not attract space cows (probably) but would be an orbiting version of a cow magnet. These are smooth magnets cattlemen feed to cows. They attract metal the cow accidentally...
View ArticleAnswer by Slarty for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
Gather themIf your civilization has the technology to create a 0.1c propulsion unit then a 0.01c propulsion unit should be readily attainable. With such a powerful rocket a small fleet of robotic craft...
View ArticleAnswer by JBH for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
Unless everthing in orbit is magnetic, the only ways to be efficient are:Use the pac-man method. It's the one and only way to collect non-magnetic debris from orbit because there's no atmosphere to...
View ArticleAnswer by A.C. for How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
You'll meet several significant problems when you try to imagine garbage collector like "Pac-man" - pieces of garbage move with relative speeds so high, that they can turn "Pac-man" itself into more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Effectively Collect and Recycle Space Junk?
The QuestionWhat would be an efficient and relatively low-cost solution for collecting and recycling of space junk?The most important criterion of effectiveness is the ability to remove even small...
View Article
