Aerial Image Reveals Destruction Resulting from Enigmatic Collision on Satellite
Space traffic is becoming increasingly congested, with numerous new satellites being propelled into orbit and the remnants of defunct ones drifting about. Recently, a satellite's selfie uncovered unanticipated damage to its solar panel, presumably caused by an unidentified impact within the preceding year.
NanoAvionics recently announced that its MP42 microsatellite bus managed to endure a collision in low Earth orbit, resulting in a 0.2-inch-deep (6 millimeter) hole in one of its solar arrays. This impact was discovered thanks to the satellite's selfie-taking capabilities, as evidenced by the chickpea-sized crater visible in a picture taken by the satellite's onboard camera this month. However, NanoAvionics is still uncertain about the source of the impact. "We can't rule out the possibility of an extraterrestrial satellite pecking, but our best guess is a fragment of space debris or a micrometeoroid," the company wrote on X.
It's challenging to ascertain exactly when the impact occurred. The last time MP42 took a selfie was in April 2023, suggesting that the collision could have happened at any time within the past 18 months.
Remarkably, the satellite operates without any hindrance despite the harm to its solar panel. Telemetry data indicates that the impact did not affect the satellite's capacity to generate power. However, this also makes it more challenging to determine the precise moment of the collision.
"Whether this impact was due to a micrometeoroid or a fragment of space debris, the incident underscores the importance of responsible space operations and encourages us to reflect on satellite resilience against such events," NanoAvionics wrote in a statement.
Currently, more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris are being monitored by the Department of Defense's global Space Surveillance Network. Many smaller fragments also remain undetected. This floating space waste poses a risk of colliding with other satellites in orbit, and the situation is worsening as space becomes more accessible.
Recently, a communications satellite shattered in space, resulting in a debris cloud comprising nearly 500 bits of uncontrollable spacecraft hardware. The International Space Station has executed 32 evasive maneuvers to avoid debris between 1999 and 2022.
MP42 was launched in April 2022 on SpaceX's Transporter-4 mission, serving as a trailblazer for NanoAvionics' M6P cubesat platform designed for various space applications. NanoAvionics' satellites are equipped with propulsion systems for controlled deorbiting, thereby reducing long-term debris in space. Other companies should adopt similar practices to design a safer orbit with reduced collision risks.
The increasing number of satellites and debris in space highlights the need for advanced space science and technology to mitigate collision risks. Future satellite designs should incorporate self-monitoring systems like MP42's to detect potential impacts early, ensuring responsible space operations and reducing the risk of catastrophic collisions in the future.
