![\"A](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2019\/02\/removedebris-satellite-harpoon-space-debris-300x158.jpg\")
<\/div>Harpooning Space Debris<\/h2>
Junk floating around in Earth’s orbit is becoming a big problem<\/a>. Bits of man-made debris can pose a big threat to satellites circling our planet. But a team of British engineers might have a clever solution.<\/p> The team of researchers from the University of Surrey used the RemoveDEBRIS satellite — a satellite specifically designed to eliminate space junk that launched on board a SpaceX Falcon rocket in April 2018 — to launch a harpoon at a (previously set up) piece of test debris at 20 meters a second (44 mph).<\/p> “Successful in space demonstration of the harpoon technology is a significant step towards solving the growing issue of space debris,” said Chris Burgess, Harpoon Lead Engineer at Airbus Defence and Space said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p> The test is actually the RemoveDEBRIS satellite’s second trick: in September, it successfully deployed a spider-like web<\/a> that was meant to grab space junk out of the sky.<\/p> The team at the University of Surrey is now preparing for its third and final test: RemoveDEBRIS will inflate a sail that will slowly drag it into Earth’s atmosphere where it will burn up and be destroyed.<\/p> READ MORE:<\/strong> Space junk harpooned like whale in orbit-cleanup test<\/a> [Associated Press<\/em>]<\/p> More on RemoveDEBRIS: UK Researchers Just Deployed a Massive Net to Catch Space Debris<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> The post Watch a Harpoon Attached to a Satellite Spear a Piece of Space Debris<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> Go here to see the original: Harpooning Space Debris Junk floating around in Earth\u2019s orbit is becoming a big problem . Continue reading Caught in a Web<\/h2>
Watch a Harpoon Attached to a Satellite Spear a Piece of Space Debris<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"