A BURNING RING OF SPACE TRASH

A BURNING RING OF SPACE TRASH

MOSCOW (Wireless Flash) – Future space travelers may have more to worry about than rush-hour traffic thanks to an increase in space garbage. Scientists at the Russian Center For Space Observations claim there are so many decommissioned satellites and busted rockets in orbit that a Saturn-like ring of junk is forming around Earth. The scientists fear a cosmic catastrophe unless the galactic garbage is hauled away – and help may be on the way. A University of Arizona aerospace professor has invented an umbrella-like object that can scoop up satellites and pulverize them into metal ribbons which burn up in the atmosphere. Dr. Kumar Ramohalli says his device could be ready within a year but he says world leaders won’t take space trash seriously unless an important communications satellite is knocked out during the Super Bowl.

Tue 05-15-01