(meteorobs) New Space Fence may help radio astronomers

[Pat Branch]

New Space Fence Contract Expected Soon.
The Washington Post (5/6, Davenport) reported that the Air Force is expected to issue a contract soon to develop a new Space Fence to replace one that “went out of commission last year” soon. While the new system would improve detection of objects and give advance notice of danger to “the approximately 1,100 working satellites — and also the international space station and the Hubble telescope,” it still will not be the “ultimate solution” to the growing problem, which will require removing what is up there. According to the article, future collisions will be “inevitable” just because of the amount of debris that exists. Joan Johnson-Freese of the Naval War College believes that legal issues and expense will prevent any mitigation efforts until people are personally affected because a satellite they rely on is destroyed. 
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