JAXA Mission Seeks to Clean up Space Debris

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has launched an experiment to test its innovative new solution for removing potentially dangerous space debris. An unmanned craft has been launched into the Earth’s orbit and, over the course of seven days, will target debris from old satellites and space rockets – there are an estimated 52,000 pieces of scrap in close proximity to the Earth – and gently guide it, using an electrified tether, into the Earth’s atmosphere to safely burn it up.

“In the experiment, the unmanned cargo spacecraft “Kounotori 6,” which was used to resupply the ISS with items such as food and batteries as well as experimental equipment, will represent a piece of space junk,” reports Japanese newspaper The Mainichi. “JAXA will attach a metallic rope, known as a “tether,” to the spacecraft. By electrifying the extended tether, it is thought that this will cause a reaction with the Earth’s magnetic field, which in turn, should create a brake-like force. Consequently, the altitude of the space debris is expected to drop — due to the Earth’s gravitational pull. Once this has occurred, the debris should burn away, as a result of the resulting friction with the air in the Earth’s atmosphere.”

“The “Kounotori 6” separated from the ISS in the early hours of Jan. 28, and JAXA is on the verge of extending the tether — which is about 700 meters long — at 10 p.m. on the same day,” The Mainichi explains. “First of all, it will be seen whether or not the tether will extend properly, and also whether it can carry an electric current. If successful, JAXA will develop a satellite that can attach a tether to space debris further to remove such waste, aiming to put it into actual use around 2025.”

Once the experiment is complete, Kounotori 6 itself will burns itself up by entering the Earth’s atmosphere.