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Using Lasers and Water Guns To Clean Space Debris

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."

5 of 267 comments (clear)

  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:Obrigatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Sharks can fly to space?

    That's what the water is for.

  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.

    --
    Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
  4. Re:Water is heavy by u38cg · · Score: 5, Funny

    More to the point, whoever proposed this idea seems to be completely unaware of the workings of orbital mechanics. Clue: the stuff is already falling. The problem is it keeps missing.

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    [FUCK BETA]
  5. Re:Water is heavy by JumboMessiah · · Score: 5, Interesting

    True, most only really think of oil as being the next big thing to cause mass hysteria, but few realize that potable water is a dwindling resource in certain regions. Even the giant Ogallala aquifer in the central United States is showing increased rate of depletion (not to mention pollution).

    There are a few books on the subject.