Look Out! There’s Space Debris About!

Location: Hotel Newport, Main Street Newport F28 YX89

We’ve spent more than six decades launching rockets, satellites and spacecraft into orbit, but what happens to all that technology when its working life comes to an end?

The answer is that much of it stays right where we left it – circling our planet at astonishing speeds. From defunct satellites and discarded rocket parts to millions of tiny fragments created by collisions and explosions, the space around Earth is becoming an increasingly busy, and potentially hazardous, place.

In this fascinating and thought-provoking talk, Dr Niall Smith takes us on a journey into the world of space debris. How did we create this extraordinary collection of orbital junk? Just how much is up there? And why should we care about objects travelling hundreds of kilometres above our heads?

As our everyday lives become increasingly dependent on satellites for communications, navigation, weather forecasting and much more, the risks posed by space debris are becoming harder to ignore. Even the smallest fragment can cause serious damage when travelling at orbital speeds, while collisions can create yet more debris in an ever-growing chain reaction.

But all is not lost! From clever new satellite designs and international guidelines to ambitious technologies for removing debris from orbit, scientists and engineers are exploring ways to tackle the problem before it gets out of hand.

An entertaining and eye-opening look at one of the less glamorous consequences of our adventures in space – and the challenge of keeping Earth’s orbital neighbourhood safe for future generations.