has to dodge space junk and is leaving blind spots on the map

Imagine that there was a satellite capable of detect fires shortly after the first spark. Even before calls to emergency services begin. Imagine now that the maps drawn thanks to that satellite suddenly begin to have unexpected gaps. Blind spots where fires can spread freely. It would be tragic, right? Without a doubt, although the truth is that it would not be. It is. This story is totally true and the worst thing is that the reason these blind spots exist is because the satellite has to move over and over again to avoid the space debris that experts have been warning us about for so long.

The collateral damage of anti-debris maneuvers. NASA’s Aqua satellite has an instrument called MODIS, which has the ability to detect hot spots and smoke by measuring infrared radiation. These heat and smoke points are minimal, which is why it is used to detect fires from their earliest stages.

Since its launch in 2002, NASA has been using it to create fire maps that allow emergency systems to move more quickly and concisely to the places where the fire is located. It’s not even its function; since, as its name indicates, it is a satellite centered on water. However, this side effect has helped save many lives and many acres of land. Unfortunately, every time he moves to avoid incoming space debris he has to let his guard down, with very worrying consequences.

One of three. Aqua is one of the three satellites that make up the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS). The other two are Terra and Aura. Their names already give us a clue as to what their function is. Basically, they do a comprehensive survey of the Earth by land, water and air. Terra was first launched in 1999. It is responsible for analyzing the interactions between the atmosphere, land, snow, ice and oceans. It can, for example, detect the progress of deforestation.

Then, in 2002, Aqua was launched. Its functions are the analysis of ocean evaporation, atmospheric water vapor, clouds, precipitation, soil moisture, ice and snow. In fact, its MODIS instrument was designed to analyze data related to the water cycle, but it turned out to be an ideal fire detector. Finally, in 2004 Aura was launched, which analyzes the chemistry of the atmosphere, the state of the ozone layer and air quality.

The problem comes in 2005. Space debris has been growing in abundance in the last 20 years. Above all, there is a lot of debris in low Earth orbit, since there is a greater gravitational influence there and these are retained. Both Aqua, Terra and Aura are in that same orbit, to be able to carry out their work close to their objectives. Therefore, they are increasingly at risk of being hit by space debris. In fact, since 2005 is calculated who have had to deviate at least 32 times to avoid these impacts.

The consequences. These detours prevent them from being able to properly carry out their functions, but they also cost a lot of extra fuel. All of these satellites are having a longer lifespan than expected. However, precisely because of these maneuvers they are using more fuel than expected, so they may stop working next year or the following year.

More satellites. Luckily, there are more satellites in space dedicated to detecting fires. NASA itself has several. However, Aqua is one of those that has given the best results. Furthermore, now a call has been made about the risk to the three EOS satellites, but there are many more, from many space agencies and companies, that are in danger from space debris. And the worst thing is that this has only just begun.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is following up of more than 50,000 pieces of space debris in orbit, but there are possibly many more. In fact, if we look at smaller objects, between 1 centimeter and 10 centimeters, the figure rises to 1.2 million detected objects. In 2005, 16,000 objects were being tracked, so the numbers have increased greatly.

Kessler syndrome. One of the biggest risks from space debris is Kessler syndrome. This is a phenomenon which would occur when fragments of space debris impact satellites, breaking them and releasing more pieces that in turn become more space debris and continue impacting other satellites. It’s kind of like a domino effect. If this happens, the consequences can be many and none of them good.

It may take a while for us to be aware of the magnitude of the problem. Therefore, the example of fire hunters is very illustrative. Without them, the planet is in serious danger. The consequences of an impact in space, or even maneuvers to avoid it, also have a full impact here on Earth. You have to do everything possible to avoid it..

Images | NASA/Matt Palmer (Unsplash)

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