Early in the morning of February 1, 2025, residents of western Poland witnessed an extraordinary phenomenon in the sky. However, it was no supernatural phenomenon, and the remains of the Falcon 9 rocket that burned in the atmosphere. The rocket belonged to SpaceX company, owned by Elon Musk, and was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Its task was to put 22 Starlink satellites in orbit, which supply the net worldwide.
Typically, the second phase of the Falcon 9 rocket undergoes a controlled descent from orbit – SpaceX then launches the vacuum engine, directing the object to the atmosphere above the ocean. This time it was different – informs the Facebook profile With head in stars. The trajectory of the flight ran through Berlin, Poznań, Łódź and Lublin, and then fragments of the rocket headed for Ukraine. From Poland the object was visible from the west, flew in a zenith and disappeared in the southeast.
What happens erstwhile a spaceship enters the atmosphere?
In most cases, entering the atmosphere is not a threat to humans, as the elements of the rocket burn as a consequence of utmost friction and advanced temperatures. Temperatures during deorbitation can scope respective 1000 degrees Celsius. any parts, specified as titanium elements or steel tanks, can last and fall to Earth.
In March 2021, fragments of Falcon 9 fell on a farm in the state of Washington. Nobody was hurt, but after this incidental SpaceX improved deorbitation procedures – explains Karol Wójcicki in the entry. As a standard, SpaceX conducts controlled deorbitation over the oceans to reduce human risk. This time, however, the entry into the atmosphere took place over Europe.
Space garbage problem
Falcon 9's unplanned deorbitation is simply a reminder of the increasing problem of space debris. According to the profile With its head in the stars, there are presently thousands of utilized satellites, fragments of rockets and another objects in orbit. Companies like SpaceX effort to reduce the amount of waste left behind, but cases like this show that things don't always go as planned.
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), in 2020 there were about 23,000 objects in orbit, including 1,500 active satellites. This number is constantly increasing, which increases the hazard of collisions and accidents. ESA estimates that in the next 10 years the number of objects in orbit can double.
What can be done to reduce the problem of space debris?
One solution is to usage fresh technologies, specified as deorbitation systems, which can aid remove utilized satellites and another objects from orbit. Another solution is global cooperation, which can aid establish standards and regulations for space activities.
SpaceX and another space companies are besides working on developing fresh technologies that can aid reduce space debris. For example, SpaceX develops the Starlink system, which aims to supply the net worldwide with satellite networks. This strategy is besides to be equipped with a deorbitation strategy that will let to remove utilized satellites from orbit.
It is worth noting that the problem of space debris is not only about SpaceX and another space companies. También governments and global organisations must take part in resolving this problem. Therefore, the UN and ESA are working to establish standards and regulations for space activities.
In conclusion, the Falcon 9 rocket and the problem of space debris are just 1 of many examples of how space activities can affect our lives. It is crucial that we be aware of these problems and work to solve them.
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Falcon 9 rocket in Poland: what happens erstwhile a spacecraft enters the atmosphere?
