The Dark Side Of Space Ambitions: The Growing Threat Of Space Debris

The Peril of Space Debris. In the vast expanse of space, a revolution is underway. The insatiable demand for computing power, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud services, has led tech leaders to look beyond Earth’s boundaries. Google, in particular, has proposed a bold plan: Project Suncatcher, an 81-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, designed to harness sunlight and power the next generation of AI data centers in space.

The idea is to beam data back to Earth, rather than beaming power back, reducing the substantial heat generated by data centers on our planet. Imagine querying a chatbot, only to have your request processed by chips running purely on solar energy in the cold vacuum of space. The benefits are undeniable, but as a space scientist, there’s a growing concern that Google will soon have to confront: space debris.

The numbers are staggering. Space debris travels at hypersonic speeds of approximately 17,500 miles per hour in low Earth orbit. A collision with a piece of debris the size of a blueberry would be catastrophic. The crisis has been exacerbated by satellite breakups, anti-satellite tests, and the rapid expansion of ← →