The Swiss have devised a plan to clean up space junk and it involves sending Pac-Man to do the job.
SPACE IS COVERED IN GARBAGE
Space is littered with all sorts of garbage like old satellites and used rockets. NASA continually tracks more than 500,000 pieces of space debris. Many of these pieces are small, but they still pose a large threat to spacecraft and to the International Space Station.
NASA and other space organizations, both public and private, are developing ideas and technologies for dealing with the growing problem of space junk.
THE PAC-MAN SOLUTION
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) launched its CleanSpace One project in 2012 to facilitate the goal of removing space junk from orbit. After exploring possible ways to remedy the problem, EPFL has devised its “Pac-Man” solution.
The idea behind this solution is to launch a special satellite into space. Once there, a net is deployed, enabling the satellite to gobble up a piece of space junk.
“This system is more reliable and offers a larger margin for maneuvering than a claw or an articulated hand,” explains Michel Lauria, professor of industrial technology at Hepia Geneva.
GOING OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
After this “Pac-Man” satellite captures its target space junk, the two objects will go out in a blaze of glory. The objects will de-orbit and combust in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The interesting design and function of the giant Pac-Man satellite was a collaboration between microengineering students from Hepia Geneva, and students and professors from the University of Applied Science Valais and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland.
LAUNCHING IN 2018
Researchers say the CleanSpace One Pac-Man solution could be ready to launch as soon as 2018. The development team has already passed the prototype stage and is ready to develop engineering models for extensive testing.
The target space debris for this mission will be EPFL’s own SwissCube satellite that has been in orbit for more than five years.
Featured Pac-man in Space image also by writer Jason McClellan.
