Space can be a harsh and unforgiving environment for the robots and humans that explore it: the hazards are many, from massive temperature swings to radiation and orbital debris.

Over 23,000 objects the size of a softball or larger are tracked 24/7 to detect potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station (ISS). A number of tiny objects—ranging from rock or dust particles to flecks of paint from satellites—are also too small to be monitored.

The threat of collisions is taken very seriously. NASA has a long-standing set of guidelines to ensure the safety of Station crew. The safety of astronauts on board the orbiting laboratory remains the top priority of all Station partners.

While the utmost precautions are taken to reduce the potential for collisions with the ISS, impacts with tiny objects do occur. One such hit was noticed recently during a routine inspection of Canadarm2 on May 12.

Experts from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA worked together to take detailed images of the area and assess the impact, which occurred on one of Canadarm2’s boom segments.

Despite the impact, results of the ongoing analysis indicate that the arm’s performance remains unaffected. The damage is limited to a small section of the arm boom and thermal blanket. A hole approximately 5mm in diameter is visible.

Canadarm2 is continuing to conduct its planned operations, including hoisting Dextre into position to replace a faulty power switchbox (Remote Power Control Module).

NASA and the CSA will continue to gather data to conclude the analysis. Near-term robotics operations will continue as planned

https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/news.asp#20210528

Space junk crashes into the International Space Station, causes damage

https://thehill.com/changing-america/resilience/smart-cities/556368-space-junk-crashed-into-the-international-space

Space junk damages International Space Station’s robotic arm

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/space-junk-damages-international-space-stations-robotic-arm-rcna1067

The post International Space Station’s robotic arm damaged by space debris appeared first on EMFSA.

 https://ssrn.com/abstract=3735092

Abstract

Mega satellite constellations, such as SpaceX’s Starlink, have the ability to connect humans across the globe in a way never before possible. However, the unprecedented deployment of tens of thousands of satellites into orbit around Earth creates the risk of altering the night sky for astronomers and the public for decades to come, as well as the risk of polluting the environment through the use of toxic satellite components.

The Federal Communications Commission considers commercial-satellite projects categorically excluded from environmental review despite the National Environmental Policy Act’s requirement that federal agencies review projects for their environmental effects. A court would likely strike down the FCC’s categorical exclusion for its lack of specificity and find that the agency is required to review commercial-satellite projects since they are likely to have direct, indirect, and cumulative effects on the environment. To prevent a challenge in court, the FCC should use NASA’s satellite project review model and complete an environmental assessment of commonly used satellite components so that future commercial-satellite projects using those components do not need to go through an environmental assessment during their application process. This would create standards in the commercial-satellite industry that promote economic growth and stability while complying with Congress’s mandate to the federal government to proactively consider the environmental impacts of its actions.

PDF avalable at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3735092

The post The Fault in Our Stars: Challenging the FCC’s Treatment of Commercial Satellites as Categorically Excluded from Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act appeared first on EMFSA.