This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
According to NASA, more than 500,000 pieces of debris are tracked as they orbit earth. Individual pieces can travel at speeds of up to 28,000 kilometers per hour, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both satellites and astronauts alike. In this episode of The Countdown, we look at some of the strangest proposals to combat the ever-growing cloud of space junk. One of them, an electrified tether created by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will launch on February 28th.
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Host/writer: Sophie Bushwick
Production Assistants: Kathryn Free & William Herkewitz
Producer/Editor: Eric R. Olson