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ESA is still at the forefront of space debris developments. But we do have a brilliant idea from the public: "Pay Communist China to shoot it down."

Just in case you don't realise, it's the one which model is next to the Space EXPO :-) Quite a piece of debris...

Some people answering the question 'What's cooler than blasting space debris with lasers...?'.

If it fires in both directions, can we align it such that it deorbits two debris with one shot?

:) the idea of having this method for debris removal is actually an ACT one from Claudio Bombardelli (ACT RF in MAD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion-beam_shepherd). This is just a technological device to implement it so that the system on board is simplified (i.e. instead of two engines, you get away with one and a weird nozzle) Marcus, you cannot align it to get rid of two debris as you need to keep the spacecraft close to the debris as this is a long duration acion. One of the two would drift away (can only follow one!)

ElectroDynamic Debris Eliminator ... seems similar to the Ariadna proposal if I remember correctly

It was presented during the second day of the SpaceTech workshop. As far as I understood (which I am not sure!) the double tether is spinning ... isn't a bit crazy!

another of those articles...

i guess when it says about the very best engineers tackling the problem as we speak, it refers to our brainstorms. How did they find out?

U.S. scientists say they're working on mini-satellites that could function as "space cops" to help avoid collisions in space of satellites and space debris. Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have tested a ground-based satellite to prove it is possible to refine the orbit of another satellite in low Earth orbit.

nice article on space debris

New technology (STARE-a constellation of nano-satellites) for tracking satellites and space debris could improve the accuracy from 1km (current by NORAD) to less than 100m. Increasing the reliability of collision detection, preventing 99% of false warnings.

12 new NIAC 1 studies - many topics familiar to us ... please have a look at those closest to your expertise to see if there is anything new/worth investigating (and in general to be knowledgeable on them since we will get questions sooner or later on them)
Principal Investigator Proposal Title Organization City, State, Zip Code
Atchison, Justin Swarm Flyby Gravimetry Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 21218-2680
Boland, Eugene Mars Ecopoiesis Test Bed Techshot, Inc. Greenville, IN 47124-9515
Cash, Webster The Aragoscope: Ultra-High Resolution Optics at Low Cost University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0389
Chen, Bin 3D Photocatalytic Air Processor for Dramatic Reduction of Life Support Mass & Complexity NASA ARC Moffett Field, CA 94035-0000
Hoyt, Robert WRANGLER: Capture and De-Spin of Asteroids and Space Debris Tethers Unlimited Bothel, WA 98011-8808
Matthies, Larry Titan Aerial Daughtercraft NASA JPL Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Miller, Timothy Using the Hottest Particles in the Universe to Probe Icy Solar System Worlds John Hopkins University Laurel, MD 20723-6005
Nosanov, Jeffrey PERISCOPE: PERIapsis Subsurface Cave OPtical Explorer NASA JPL Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Oleson, Steven Titan Submarine: Exploring the Depths of Kraken NASA GRC Cleveland, OH 44135-3127
Ono, Masahiro Comet Hitchhiker: Harvesting Kinetic Energy from Small Bodies to Enable Fast and Low-Cost Deep Space Exploration NASA JPL Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
Streetman, Brett Exploration Architecture with Quantum Inertial Gravimetry and In Situ ChipSat Sensors Draper Laboratory Cambridge, MA 02139-3539
Wiegmann, Bruce Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transit System (HERTS) NASA MSFC Huntsville, AL 35812-0000

Eh, the swarm flyby gravimetry is very similar to the "measuring gravitational fields" project I proposed in the brewery

Wow, this seems like a good idea ... I wonder why we did not have it before .....

Asteroid or Space Debris, same battle ?

Some ideas on debris mitigation.

also interesting (for the Earth Science girls): Nilton Renno of the University of Michigan, who studies how rocket plumes from Mars landers affect the Martian surface.

So... basically they are the only guys who now do human spaceflight?

and 2nd failed launch for Russian in 10 days. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/proton-m-launches-russias-ekspress-am4-communications-satellite/ although this one is a giant space debris stuck on the GTO.

ESA's article on the consequences for ISS: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM6GJUTTRG_index_0.html What is not clear is if the rocket that failed is the same variant as used in manned missions. [Edit] According to this article: http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=3&id=268437 "The first and second stages of the Soyuz-FG space rocket used for manned launches differ from those of the Soyuz-U, but the third stage [the one that failed - MR] is identical in both rockets". Thus the stay of astronauts currently at ISS may prolong a little bit.