Ottawa,SANA-The risk of Space Junk Hitting planes is rising in the Era of SpaceX, According to a new study
The researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada found that ‘’ the increasing risk is also being driven in part by the mass deployment of satellites, like SpaceX’s Starlink adding that”
as more satellites and rockets are sent into orbit, and more planes take to the skies, the chances of a hit are growing,The highest-density regions, around major airports, have a 0,8 percent chance per year of being affected by an uncontrolled reentry.
The study said that “This rate rises to 26 percent for larger but still busy areas of airspace, such as that found in the northeastern United States, northern Europe, or around major cities in the Asia-Pacific region.”
According to The Aerospace Corporation, the likelihood of a fatal plane collision with an object falling from space was close to 1 in 100,000 in 2021.
What’s more, even the smallest chunk of a rocket or satellite that’s burning up could bring a plane down – making it difficult to guarantee passenger safety. Estimates suggest something as small as one gram could cause damage if it made contact with the aircraft windshield or engine.
As the chance of interference grows, so does the probability that parts of airspace will be closed – which then leads to other stretches of sky becoming more congested, or planes getting delayed or canceled altogether.
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