What is behind the bizarre practice of launching capsules containing
the burnt human remains of celebrities into space? Isn't this
ghoulish practice just a bit beneath the dignity of science?

Junk accumulating in space could pose risks
Friday, January 20, 2006
Randolph E . Schmid
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON ‹ More than 9,000 pieces of space debris are orbiting Earth,
a hazard that can be expected to get only worse in the next few years.
And there¹s no workable and economic way to clean up the mess.

There is about 5,500 tons of space junk, according to a report by NASA
scientists J.C. Liou and N.L. Johnson in today¹s issue of the journal
Science.

Even if space launches were halted, the collection of debris would
continue to grow as items in orbit collide and break into more pieces,
Liou said.

"On the other hand, we are not claiming the sky is falling," he said,
"We just need to understand what the risks are."

The most debris-crowded area is between 550 and 625 miles above the
Earth, Liou said, meaning the risk is less for manned spaceflight. The
International Space Station operates at about 250 miles altitude, and
space shuttle flights tend to range between 250 and 375 miles, he said.

But the junk can pose a risk to commercial and research flights and
other space activities.

Much of the debris results from exploding satellites, especially those
left in orbit with leftover fuel and high-pressure fluids.

A 2004 NASA report identified Russia as the source of the most debris,
closely followed by the United States.

Even without new launches, the creation of debris from the collisions
will exceed the amount of material removed as orbits decay and items
fall back to Earth, the researchers said.

Only recovering large objects "can prevent future problems for research
in and commercialization of space," they wrote.

"As of now there is no viable solution, technically and economically, to
remove objects from space," Liou said.