Scientists have discovered a new method to track falling space debris using ground-based seismic sensors. When space junk reenters the atmosphere, it creates sonic booms that these sensors can detect. This innovative approach offers valuable data about the debris’s speed, size, and fragmentation during its descent.
Benjamin Fernando, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University, and engineer Constantinos Charalambous from Imperial College London successfully tested this technique during the reentry of the Shenzhou-15 orbital module in April 2024. Their research showed how seismic sensors, typically used to monitor earthquakes, could also track space debris.
Their findings revealed that these sensors could gather detailed information about the reentry process. For instance, the researchers measured the speed of the Shenzhou-15 module, which was traveling at about Mach 25 to 30, or approximately 7.8 kilometers per second. Initially, the module produced a single sonic boom, but as it fell, it broke apart, creating a series of smaller boom signals.
Space debris is a growing issue. Current estimates from the European Space Agency suggest that there are about 1.2 million pieces of hazardous space junk orbiting Earth. Many of these abandoned spacecraft pose risks if they collide with other debris or if they reenter the atmosphere uncontrollably.
Understanding these reentry dynamics is important. It can help predict where pieces of debris might land and assess the potential hazards they pose. This research is not only about tracking but also about improving our situational awareness regarding space debris, which is becoming a pressing global issue.
Moreover, knowing how these objects break apart can aid scientists in modeling the dispersal of harmful particles released during reentry. This could be crucial for areas where debris might land and for understanding any environmental impacts.
While we cannot prevent uncontrolled reentries entirely, this new method shows that we can leverage existing technology to better monitor and understand them. Scientists aim to turn these findings into practical applications for ensuring safety in our increasingly crowded orbital spaces.
The findings were published in Science. To delve deeper into the technical specifics of their research, you can read more here.
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