The earth is now covered by space junk after nearly 70 years of space exploration. An accident in 2023 made the clean-up more difficult to start.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), scientists plan on testing their “junk truck”, ClearSpace-1, in 2025. It’s a spacecraft with four arms that can catch debris (碎片) and bring it back to the earth. One of its tasks is to bring back VESPA, a 113-kilogram, two-metre-wide rocket part.
But it was hit by another piece of space junk in August 2023, creating new pieces. The ESA is now changing its clean-up plan. “We must reduce the creation of new space debris and begin to actively reduce the influence on other objects,” said the agency.
Most satellites today are sent into the earth’s low orbit (轨道), which reach up to around 2,000 kilometres above the earth. There, spacecraft are most likely to hit each other. There may be as many as 170,000,000 pieces of space junk in orbit, according to the ESA. Big or small, any of the pieces can cause harm to a spacecraft. For example, if an object as large as 10 centimeters hit s a satellite, the satellite will break apart.
As for the clean-up, scientists have some other ideas. One popular plan is to send a spacecraft carrying harpoons and magnets (磁铁). The craft would shoot the harpoon to stick into the debris before “throwing” it back to the earth. Magnets could move the debris, changing its direction. The debris would burn after entering the earth’s atmosphere so there wouldn’t be much left when it reaches the earth. Scientists are also considering shooting lasers from the spacecraft to heat up the debris surface, creating a small push that would change the debris’ orbit. This change would allow the debris to be caught by the earth’s gravity.
Space junk can be very dangerous, and space agencies around the world are testing and planning the clean-up. But why haven’t they done anything yet? One reason is the high cost. But they will still keep on testing the cheap and fine clean-up.
【小题1】What is the main purpose of ClearSpace-1?| A．To test the junk truck in orbit. | B．To bring VESPA back to the earth. |
| C．To avoid the accidents in space. | D．To clean up the debris from the earth’s orbit. |
| A．Because it was hit by a satellite. | B．Because it discovered more debris in orbit. |
| C．Because it will create new space junk. | D．Because more satellites are sent into the earth. |
| A．The lasers from the spacecraft are to burn the debris. |
| B．Space debris is dangerous and harmful to astronauts. |
| C．Scientists have been doing research to clean up the space debris. |
| D．The high cost of space cleaning will stop scientists from testing. |
| A．Looking for Ways to Clean up Space | B．Escaping from Crowded Space |
| C．Dangerous Space Debris | D．Excellent Space Exploration |
