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What is the plan for these sorts of highly-expensive, super-delicate instruments in an environment where Russia (or other spacefaring nations) just blow things
by nkcmr 5y ago
What is the plan for these sorts of highly-expensive, super-delicate instruments in an environment where Russia (or other spacefaring nations) just blow things up leaving huge clouds of debris that would destroy it in seconds?
Does the JWST just operate at a different level of orbit or something?
(edit: don't just single out Russia)
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- zzt123 5y agoThere is no current interest by anyone in destroying science telescope rather than spy telescopes. Also, the JWT is at L2, 1.5m km from earth, whereas ASAT tests generally occur in LEO. Cosmos 1408 as you mention orbited at around 500km. Although I’m certain we could blow up the JWT if we really really wanted to.
- nkcmr 5y agoSorry, should have made my comment more clear. Wasn't suggesting that Russia would blow up JWST. Rather, it might inadvertently be damaged by one destroying a different satellite, and the debris from that colliding with JWST.
- koheripbal 5y agoThat is not a risk where JWST is going. It will not be in Earth orbit.
- gvb 5y agoYes - Lagrange point L2 which is a waaaay different orbit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point
- thatcherc 5y agoYup - JWST will be way high up in space, much farther away than the Moon and plenty far from the debris we talk about in low Earth orbit. The telescope actually orbits the Sun, not Earth, at a point called "Earth-Sun L2", which is a point in line with the Earth. L2 is one of 5 Lagrange points in the Earth-Sun system, which are special spots objects can orbit around (stably or unstably) without there being a central body.
- simion314 5y ago>where Russia just blows things up Maybe you should name and shame everyone that done this same thing, even if you don't remember similar actions the comments on the Russia storied remind us that other assholes also did the same, some even blew up nukes in orbit causing malfunction to satellites. Yeah, it is depression to think that lot of things are at the mercy of a few giants whims.
- kyrra 5y agoIt's worth noting that Russia is not the only country that has done this. The US, China, and India have all blown up a satellite with a rocket from Earth. Here a couple of Wall Street journal commentary (AKA opinion) pieces on the topic. They all talk about different aspects of it, the first being probably the most interesting around your point of view. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-space-treaty-to-stop-debris-antisatellite-junk-orbit-kessler-syndrome-russia-weapon-11637074865 https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-space-treaty-to-stop-debris-a... https://www.wsj.com/articles/vladimir-putins-space-front-russia-anti-satellite-test-military-11637103868 https://www.wsj.com/articles/vladimir-putins-space-front-rus... https://www.wsj.com/articles/space-armageddon-and-putins-threats-to-ukraine-russia-antisatellite-weapon-11637183651 https://www.wsj.com/articles/space-armageddon-and-putins-thr... As always, you can plug these into http://archive.is http://archive.is to bypass the paywall.
- nkcmr 5y agoWorth noting, indeed; thank you. Probably should have worded my comment more carefully to just be generally worried about debris in Earth orbits no matter the source and not singling out Russia.
- kyrra 5y agoIn case you didn't actually click any of the articles, I recommend at least reading the first. It talks about needing a new treaty for space to deal with space debris. The other two focus on national defense from a US perspective.