How To: Safely Dispose Of Dead Satellites
According to Dr. Kristen Gates, all we need to do is attach a giant drag-causing balloon to the defunct spacejunk, then sit back and watch it burn as it slowly enters the earth's atmosphere. Interesting concept Doctor, but I suggest we keep exploring our options until we come up with something that involves a powerful burning laser.
The "GOLD" envelope she's proposing -- or the Gossamer Orbit Lowering Device -- is basically the toughest balloon in the world. It's sent up to orbit in a box no larger than a suitcase, and then it's fastened to a dead satellite or a piece of space junk. After that? It inflates into a massive balloon, enveloping whatever it's designed to lower.
Lower into the atmosphere, that is, where the piece of debris will burn up and trouble the Earth's orbit no more. The balloon's size amplifies the amount of drag acting on the space junk already, which slowly decays an object's orbit.
Sure we could just use boring round balloons, or we could -- wait for it -- use giant balloon animals. You know how many people would buy telescopes just to see a giant wiener dog dragging a dead satellite to its fiery death? I'm talking double-digits.
Giant 'GOLD' balloon takes down dangerous orbital debris [dvice]
-
This is a picture created by Redditor boredboarder8 of the moon with a to-scale United States superimposed over it to give you a concept of its size. That is, if you can imagine how big the United States is. Which, given the fact you just poked yourself in the eye with a drin... / Continue →
-
This is a video of an intersection in Germany that allows two pedestrians on opposite sides of the street to play a little game of pong against each other while waiting for the walk light to turn green. The game even has a timer that shows you how long you've got left until it... / Continue →
-
This is a custom wooden Game of Thrones themed RISK set made by artist Fay Helfer. Hopefully it'll spur Parker Brothers to make an officially licensed version, because I would play that. I'd also brandish a sword at the table and drink mulled wine. Or wine coolers, I don't c... / Continue →
