The increasing congestion of Earth’s orbit, filled with both active satellites and defunct debris, poses a growing threat to space infrastructure. A recent satellite selfie has highlighted this danger, revealing unexpected damage to a solar panel, likely caused by an unidentified impact within the past year.
NanoAvionics, a satellite company, recently disclosed that its MP42 microsatellite experienced an impact in low Earth orbit, resulting in a 0.2-inch (6 mm) hole on one of its solar arrays. This discovery was made possible by the satellite’s onboard camera, which captured an image of the chickpea-sized crater. The exact nature of the impacting object remains unknown, with possibilities ranging from space debris to micrometeoroids.
Pinpointing the exact time of the impact is also challenging. The last selfie taken by MP42 was in April 2023, placing the incident sometime within the past year and a half. Remarkably, the satellite continues to operate normally, with telemetry data indicating no disruption to power generation. This resilience makes determining the precise timing of the impact even more difficult.
NanoAvionics emphasizes the importance of responsible space operations, highlighting that the collision, regardless of its cause, underscores the need for satellite resilience against such events. The increasing amount of space debris poses a significant threat to operational satellites. The Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network currently tracks over 27,000 pieces of orbital debris, with countless smaller, untracked fragments also present.
This incident follows a recent event where a communications satellite disintegrated, creating a cloud of nearly 500 pieces of uncontrolled debris. The International Space Station has also performed 32 collision-avoidance maneuvers between 1999 and 2022, illustrating the growing concern.
Launched in April 2022 as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-4 mission, MP42 serves as a pathfinder for NanoAvionics’ M6P cubesat platform. Crucially, these satellites are equipped with propulsion systems for controlled deorbiting, a key strategy for mitigating long-term space debris. The adoption of such practices by other satellite operators is essential for ensuring a more sustainable and less hazardous orbital environment.
The incident with MP42 serves as a stark reminder of the increasing risks associated with orbital debris and the need for proactive measures to ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of space operations. The continued growth of space activities necessitates a greater emphasis on responsible practices and innovative solutions to address the escalating debris problem.
