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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."

4 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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      Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
    2. 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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      Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
  2. Saturn by lindseyp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Saturns rings would like a word with you. ;)

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    j'ai découvert une démonstration vraiment admirable (de ce théorème général) que cette si