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Using Lasers and Water Guns To Clean Space Debris

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the super-soaker-one-million dept.

WSJdpatton writes "The collision between two satellites last month has renewed interest in some ideas for cleaning up the cloud of debris circling the earth. Some of the plans being considered: Using aging rockets loaded with water to dislodge the debris from orbit so it will burn up in the atmosphere; junk-zapping lasers; and garbage-collecting rockets."

8 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Water is heavy by kcbanner · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be extremely expensive to send large quantities of water into orbit (also, our water supply is limited we can't be throwing it into space!)?

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    1. Re:Water is heavy by Spazztastic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wouldn't it be extremely expensive to send large quantities of water into orbit (also, our water supply is limited we can't be throwing it into space!)?

      But it rains! The water will come right back down eventually!

      Don't question me. My logic is flawless.

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    2. Re:Water is heavy by sakdoctor · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Fine, use a powder made from AOL trial CDs. That's a limitless resource.

    3. Re:Water is heavy by Spazztastic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Damn! Shut up already! The average moron will totally believe your rain concept.

      Apparently they do, I just was modded insightful.

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    4. Re:Water is heavy by FooAtWFU · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Our water supply is not "limited" in any meaningful sense of the word, given the state of modern technology and engineering. All that Man has wrought pales in comparison to the vastness of the oceans.

      Now, our fresh-drinkable-water supplies in places that they can be effectively used for agriculture, industry, or residential populated areas, sure, that's an entirely different story altogether.

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    5. Re:Water is heavy by snowraver1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, but magnetic force is an inverse of the distance squared. The further away the object is, you need exponentionally more power. If you wanted to pull something out of orbit, you would cause devistation as all metal objects (cars, buildings, etc) in a large area would be propelled towards your magnetic source at hypersonic speeds.

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  2. Re:Water? by mikeee · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Given the price of launching things to space, you could use scotch whiskey instead and it wouldn't affect the cost or feasibility of this plan.

  3. Saturn by lindseyp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Saturns rings would like a word with you. ;)

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