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After years of space exploration, we've left thousands of pieces
of defunct equipment and other junk in orbit around earth.
This trash can endanger satellites and astraunauts
and make it difficult to get off the planet.
So researchers have suggested some very, um,
interesting methods for cleaning up space.
Here are the craziest ones that just might work.
I'm Sophie, and welcome to the countdown.
Let's start with every mad scientist's favorite toy:
giant lasers!
From Earth's surface, a laser beam
can zap a piece of debris in space, slowing down the target.
And once the trash is moving slowly,
it will fall towards Earth and burn up in the atmosphere.
On the bright side, this kind of device
would be based on the ground,
but most nations get a bit nervous
when they hear someone's building a giant laser,
which could be used to knock their own satellites out of the sky.
So this is one idea whose time
may not have come...yet!
Why not try an old fashioned method and snare the trash in giant nets.
Dartha is currently developing a new space craft
called Electro Dynamic Debris Eliminator,
or EDDE.
Despite it's fancy name, EDDE is a glorified fishing boat.
Armed with 200 nets, the vehicle will fly
around at low Earth orbit,
tracking down and netting pieces of junk
Once it makes a capture, EDDE will hurl the debris
towards the open ocean
or set it on a trajectory that will destroy it.
When it comes to clean up, even little satellites
can make a big difference.
The tiny nanocell D is only the size of a loaf of bread,
but it can unfurl a super thin, solar sail.
To avoid becoming a piece of space junk,
Nanocell D catches the sun's rays,
propelling itself towards a fiery death in Earth's atmosphere.
If we equip all new satellites with solar sails
they'll be able to self destruct rather than turn into trash.
And we might even think about attaching solar sails
to junk that's already in orbit.
sending it back to Earth.
Sling-shots are a classic childhood weapon
and they might also be used to hurl space junk.
Two researchers at Texas A&M University
have proposed a unique satellite, dubbed Sling-Sat.
Sling-Sat would capture a piece of debris, whirl around
and sling-shot the trash to its doom.
With the momentum from one throw
the satellite could hurl itself towards its next target
saving on fuel.
The latest cosmic clean-up method comes courtesy
of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.
A satellite will carry a metal tether made of aluminum and stainless steel,
which can attach to a piece of trash.
As the tether interacts with Earth's magnetic field
it generates electricity.
This slows down the space junk which eventually
incinerates in the atmosphere.
This technique is in it's early stages.
Its first trial run is set to launch in February, 2014.
A JAXA satellite will unfurl and study the tether
without destroying any trash.
I'm Sophie Bushwick, and that's your countdown.
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spacelab channel on YouTube
or follow us on Twitter @sa_spacelab.
And if you've got any topics you'd like to see in the future,
let us know in the comments.