PRESENT-DAY PATENT- A PREVIEW

Have you ever thought of what happens to a rocket or satellite and their parts, on becoming defunct, are left over in space? It is very shocking that most part of these human-made objects for exploring space and earth’s atmosphere are actually mounted or circulated as polluting and hazardous junks in and around the earth’s orbits as space debris!!! Though the space debris could take years to hinder the life on earth, they are very risky to the astronauts, space crafts or the satellites in operation, as a minute space debris can even move with high velocity and cause destructive collisions. There are several methods to slow down, capture and remove the debris particles like, harpoon and net capture, space robots or tugs with debris-grabbing arms etc. However, tracking and collecting debris particles of less than 5cm size in the earth’s orbit is very arduous. A recent invention has taken account of this notion, presenting a space debris collector with a funnel collector, infinity loop, a laser ablator and re-entry module as its main components. As per the invention, the funnel collector with grooves/ tracks collects the fast-moving, minute space debris and speed down or sediment them in the infinity loop. The slowly-moving sedimented debris, which comes out of the infinity loop, then undergoes annihilation with laser guns inside the ablator chamber. Finally, the finely- powdered debris is then collected in bags with booster being attached to them for sending them back to the earth’s atmosphere.  Space debris is actually a serious environmental concern, about which the people on Earth is less aware of. Hence, inventions to expunge the space debris are most anticipated. Moreover, it is equally important to invent and design space exploration entities, which produce less debris that can be removed and not piled up in space. 

Image courtesy: www.en.photo-ac.com