Future GPS Problems

PolyOlefin

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You should read about the "Kessler effect". The ridiculous amount of space debris makes satellite launches more difficult... space debris crashes into each other, making exponentially more space debris. It destroys satellites and increases the cost of future satellite deployment, and it's theorized that penetrating this layer will eventually become impossible.

In a nutshell, we're talking about a future where GPS outtages are commonplace due to this phenomenon. Russia and Japan are planning space operations that will attempt to clear some debris within the next 15 years, but nothing is certain.

This is the ESA's graphical depiction of all of the space objects in low-earth orbit (both active and inactive):

space-debris-3-polar-orbit.jpg


Approximate figures:
  • 15,500 pieces over 4" in size
  • Over 100,000 pieces under 4" in size
Scared yet?
 
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