So apparently the #KesslerSyndrome has already started. The amount of avoidance maneuvers grew 3x over the last 6 months, and the amount of junk in the orbit went up by <s>40%<\s>63% <a href=https://spectrum.ieee.org/kessler-syndrome-space-debris> [1]<\a> over the last 5 years.

What now? It's hard to internalize that it's already here. It will be a quick ride from now. It goes exponential. Hug your GPS, satelite tv, the weather reports, the space photos. It's the end of the space age. We will be telling our grand children how cool it was.

And maybe, if they are lucky, the moon will herd the debris into an orbital ring. It will be magnificent.

What should we be doing to prepare for this? What are your thoughts?

#space #nasa #satelite #sst #collisionavoidance #esa #scifi

Kessler Syndrome Space Debris Threatens Satellites

The Kessler syndrome is turning space into a hazardous zone. Learn about the innovative tech and international efforts to manage this growing problem.

IEEE Spectrum
...nothing? I don't use space for anything. Not TV, not GPS, not shipping, or travel. I don't even go stargazing, never lived far from a city full of street lights. Weather reports will be bad, I guess.

The space age ended with Reagan anyway, who privatized fucking everything and slashed government programs like NASA into oblivion. It's not cool anymore. It's just rich people launching rockets for their own good.

Also I don't get to have children, or grand children, and in my old age I'll just be all alone, so thanks for reminding me of that.
@cy sorry. I meant grandchildren metaphorically. Like young people when we are old.
I don't hold it against you. It's a pretty safe assumption that we'll all have grandchildren to tell tales of the old world. I just had unusually low opportunity in my life.

I don't think people normally trust strange old men who just want to talk to their young children, though. Probably safer that you stick with meaning only biological grandchildren.