A Russian test of an anti-satellite missile that created a cloud of debris and endangered humans living aboard the International Space Station has reignited concerns over space junk.
Thanks to a sharp rise in the number of private companies capable of putting satellites in orbit at a greatly reduced cost, the number of objects in space has soared in recent years.
Private companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin are opening up a new era in space flight and small satellites, but experts have for years given warning of the perils of ignoring the problem of space junk before taking the next small steps into the cosmos.
What experts are saying about space junk
“Space junk rises to the level of our national consciousness only when something – an inactive satellite, busted-up rocket boosters, fragments of manned spacecraft – threatens us back on Earth,” US futurist Amy Webb wrote in 2018.
“Space junk is a problem that continues to orbit our collective attention, and within days it will once again circle out of view. We’ll ignore the problem to our own detriment.”
Russia’s missile test last week destroyed an old satellite in low Earth orbit and created a cloud of hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris, 1,500 of which are large enough to track from the ground, prompting US officials to accuse the Russians of “dangerous and irresponsible behaviour”.
After several officials at first denied that Russia was behind the test, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu eventually defended the action and said the debris did “not pose any threat to space activity”.
But this view was not shared by space officials and experts.
Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said he was “outraged by this irresponsible and destabilising action. With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS but also their own cosmonauts.
“All nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from Asats (anti-satellite weapons) and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment,” he said.
The crew of astronauts on board the International Space Station – including two Russian cosmonauts – were forced to take shelter in their re-entry capsules while they passed near the debris cloud, Nasa said.
The US space agency was already tracking more than 100 million pieces of space junk orbiting the Earth.
Even the smallest objects can pose a threat to fragile satellites and orbiting laboratories like the ISS because of the incredibly high speeds at which they are travelling – often in excess of 28,000kph.
Though the near-term threat posed by space junk is largely confined to satellites in low Earth orbit, experts want action now before any unforeseen consequences arise.
“As the number of rocket launches increases, the more space junk there will be – and it's unclear what the long-term effects on the atmosphere may be,” wrote Alice Gorman, a pioneering “space archaeologist”, whose research focuses on space debris.
“The quantity of human materials in orbit is only increasing more rapidly with the launch of "mega-constellations" of communication satellites, like Starlink, SpaceX's plan to provide low-cost satellite internet access,” she wrote.
Calls for better regulation
After the Russian Asat test, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the event showed the need for international regulation governing activity in space.
"We've been very clear, we would like to see norms for space so that it can be used responsibly by all spacefaring nations," he said.
While there are international agreements that govern the use of weapons in space – in 1963, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution prohibiting the introduction of weapons of mass destruction in outer space – Asat tests such as the one carried out by Russia this week are not illegal.
After a similar Russian test destroyed a satellite in July last year, international space agencies and former astronauts signed an open letter from the Outer Space Institute, calling for a halt to Asat testing.
“The development of mega-constellations along with the expected growth of crewed space missions make debris-generating Asat tests significantly more perilous than before,” the letter said.
The institute said Asat tests could create a domino effect, leading to a cascading series of incidents and creating more and more orbital debris, similar to the disaster depicted in the 2013 film Gravity.
Regulation regarding space junk, the institute said, has “lapsed”.
But a host of space companies and organisations this week committed to redoubling their efforts to find ways of reducing the amount of junk in orbit by 2030.
The Net Zero Space charter, launched on November 12 during the Paris Peace Forum in France, was signed by high-profile space companies including Arianespace and Eutelsat.
“There are about 4,700 operational satellites currently in orbit, and this number could rise to more than 25,000 by the end of the decade," Arianespace chief executive Stephan Israel said.
“We must therefore urgently address the question of our responsibility in relation to the increased use of space, so we can safeguard the benefits for humanity over the long haul.”
Anti-satellite weapons - in pictures
Company%20profile
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Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%209
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Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
THREE
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
AS IT STANDS IN POOL A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
