Russian pod to remove space junk orbiting earth


26 Nov 2010

Conditions could be getting a little tighter just above our stratosphere, a recent announcement by Russian space corporation Energia suggests.

Apparently, wayward defunct satellites are causing a real space problem circulating in geosynchronous orbit and Energia has decided to play celestial caretaker and clean them up.

The rocket and space corporation will send a special nuclear-powered pod into orbit that has been designed to clean up the near-Earth space satellite debris.

600 wayward satellites

The pod will spend 10 to 15 years in orbit, collecting around 600 wayward satellites and sinking them into the ocean subsequently, according to Energia.

The project will cost the space corporation an estimated US$2bn, according to spacedaily.com.