A space physics expert has warned that 18,000mph pieces of debris could fall to Earth (Image: Getty)
A space physics expert has warned that space junk orbiting around the Earth and flying at 18,000mph could pose a genuine threat to those on the planet below.
told Reach that whilst the probability of being hit by a piece of debris that had fallen through the atmosphere was relatively low, said impact could cause major, and potentially fatal, damage.
His warning comes weeks after a space ring – allegedly from an Ariane rocket launched in 2008 – landed on the Kenyan village of Mukuku. The impact, which sent shockwaves through the local area, has raised questions about the dangers of space junk orbiting Earth.
Speaking exclusively to Reach about the subject, Dr Whittaker warned about the potential and literal impact of more objects falling from space whilst urging companies such as ’s SpaceX to take action.
He said: “While the probability of being hit by a falling piece of space debris is very low currently, with over 36,000 objects (and rising) bigger than a phone in orbit the probabilities will increase over the coming years.
There are concerns about the potentially fatal consequences of space junk falling to Earth (Image: Getty)
“The potential for damage to both life and property is high, any falling object that doesn’t disintegrate in the atmosphere will be travelling fast and the drag force will heat it to very high temperatures.
“While it would be moving at about 8 km/s in orbit (18000 mph), it will significantly slow down in the atmosphere which is where the debris will be heated but is still likely to be travelling around the 100 m/s mark (200+ mph). For an object like the Ariane separation ring if it landed in a dense urban area it would have easily destroyed a building and potentially killed people.”
He added: “The number of pieces of space debris have been increasing due to the massively increased number of launches (with SpaceX responsible for a large number of these)….The dangers can be mitigated but it requires satellite and rocket manufacturers to take responsibility for what they have already launched and future launches.”
Although the number of substantially sized objects surviving the journey through the atmosphere is small in comparison to the pieces of debris in orbit, there is nevertheless concern about more incidents occurring.
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What’s more, whilst the Ariane rocket ring is one of the largest to fall to Earth, Dr Whittaker says it is not these objects that we have to be the most worried about.
He explained: “Far more important is the objects between 1cm and 10cm (so between the width of a paperclip and the size of a phone). These usually arise from collisions and full number is difficult to count due to the sheer number of pieces, but is estimated in the millions.
“These small metallic pieces can be travelling at around 8 km/s (~18,000 mph) and can easily punch through satellite bodies, solar cell arrays etc.”
Some of these objects have already started falling to Earth in recent years. In the United States, a Florida family sought compensation from Nasa after space debris collided with their home last year, .
Speaking to Wink-TV, Alejandro Otero said the piece of debris, later determined to be part of a stanchion jused to mount batteries to cargo pallets, nearly hit his son and caused his family mental anguish.
He added: “I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage.”