Catching satellites

Explore the challenges faced by the spacecraft sent to catch large pieces of space debris.

Kit list

• Litter pickers / grabbers
• Clothesline / sturdy line
• Pegs
• String
• Objects to act as space debris. These could be model satellites that learners have made, balloons, or even household debris from the recycling bin!

Introduction

Cleaning up space debris is a challenge. We need to catch satellites that are often only a few metres across, travelling at incredible speeds, hundreds of miles above Earth.

Spacecraft, known as chaser satellites, are being developed to carry out the task of catching and removing space debris. The ClearSpace spacecraft that will be used in the UK Space Agency mission is an example of this.

Set up

• Set up a clothesline with space around it.
• Tie string to the line for objects to be attached to.

Running the activity

1. Attach the string with satellites on to the clothesline using pegs to create a busy “low Earth orbit” filled with satellites.
2. Identify the challenges of trying to catch satellites which have become space debris (e.g. travel speed, the size of them compared to endless space).
3. Use the grabbers to catch the satellites and pull them off the clothesline, thereby bringing them into earth atmosphere to burn up.

Increasing the difficulty

• Rock or move the clothesline to simulate the difficulty of trying to catch satellites as they tumble through space.
• Specify that certain satellites on the clothesline must not be touched as they are still active.
• You can also use a rotary washing line to further simulate satellites orbiting around earth. Use soft objects for satellites if you do this.

This activity is also available in our downloadable resource pack.

Header image credit: ClearSpace UK