Space Waste Disposal: A Sustainable Solution?

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In summary, the idea of shooting waste into space to dispose of it may seem like a solution, but it poses potential hazards and is not necessary. The majority of radioactive waste is safely stored and can be reused, making it a manageable issue.
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LasTSurvivoR
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Instead of throwing waste to seas, why don't we throw out the waste to the space with a specially designed shuttle to throw it away and return to Earth ?
 
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Who throws radioactive waste out at sea? High level waste (fission products recovered from spent fuel) tends to be stored dissolved in nitric acid in cooled stainless steel tanks. There are liquid effluent discharges but these tend to make up a small minority of the total radioactive inventory from spent fuel.

Shooting stuff into space always has the associated hazard of possibly ending up back spread all over the Earth due to a rocket failure - not the kind of environmental hazard even BP would contemplate at the moment!
 
  • #3
Actually, while you will often hear the "launch vehicle could explode and then radioactivity would be dispersed everywhere" argument, I don't think it's actually a valid argument.

Look at the space-based RTGs we've been using ever since pretty much the beginning of space exploration. They have the radioactive material packaged up in a container which will survive the most extreme conditions, including catastrophic failure of the launch vehicle and even atmospheric reentry without releasing the radioactivity.

So clearly if we wanted to shoot radioactive waste into space it is possible to do so with no danger.

The real reasons are simply that it would be incredibly expensive and it's just not necessary.

Radioactive waste is not a huge drama or problem like some people imply it to be.
There's not that much of it, it's being stored safely, most of it is useful material, and it hasn't ever hurt anyone.
 

1. What is space waste and why is it a problem?

Space waste, also known as space debris, refers to man-made objects in orbit around Earth that no longer serve any useful purpose. These objects can range from spent rocket stages and defunct satellites to fragments of spacecraft and equipment. The accumulation of space waste poses a threat to current and future space missions and can lead to collisions that create more debris. This is a problem because it can hinder the progress of space exploration and pose risks to astronauts and spacecraft.

2. How much space waste is currently in orbit?

According to the European Space Agency, there are currently around 34,000 objects larger than 10 cm in orbit around Earth, and millions of smaller pieces of debris. This number continues to grow as more space missions and launches take place.

3. What are the current methods of space waste disposal?

The current methods of space waste disposal include controlled re-entry, which involves maneuvering a spacecraft or satellite to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, and relocation, where a spacecraft or satellite is moved to a graveyard orbit far away from operational satellites. There is also the option of using a robotic arm to capture and remove debris.

4. What is a sustainable solution for space waste disposal?

A sustainable solution for space waste disposal involves reducing the amount of debris created through responsible design and management of space missions. This can include using materials that are less likely to create debris upon impact, and removing defunct satellites and debris from orbit through retrieval missions or by using technology such as nets or harpoons. It also involves implementing strict regulations and guidelines for space activities to prevent the creation of more debris.

5. What role can governments and space agencies play in addressing space waste?

Governments and space agencies have a crucial role to play in addressing space waste. They can develop and enforce regulations for space activities to prevent the creation of debris and encourage responsible design and management of space missions. They can also invest in research and technology to improve the detection and tracking of debris, and develop methods for removing it from orbit. Collaboration between governments and space agencies is essential to effectively address the issue of space waste disposal.

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