German version with English subtitles

 

The Physics Club in Hamburg is doing research on space waste. They are studying if space waste can be recycled:

Responsible teacher: Jan-Peter Klöckner , grade 11/12

In the first project phase an installation titled "Problem Space Waste"
will be made. This installation will be threefold; in text-form,
sculpture and multi medial using video.

In _text-form_ we will present our research and give a definition of the
terms space waste & debris. The impact on scientific and commercial use
of the space surrounding planet earth will be addressed, concerning the
growing number of parts and particles in earth-orbit. First ideas and
solutions to the problem already implemented or discussed
internationally will be presented.

Our _sculpture_ will be a scaled representation of waste and debris in
earth-orbit now (~2012) and in a predicted future (2030 or 2050) if
scientific and commercial space-travel will not change their
waste-disposal habit. The multiplication of parts and particles via
collision at high speeds will be shown using models made of styro-foam.

_Video_: "Let's Play: Kerbal Space Program(c)" (publication via
INTERNET) we will produce a voice-over video, addressing and visualizing
the "Problem Space Waste". Using the physically accurate rocket and
space-travel simulation software "Kerbal Space Program" (KSP), we would
like to show the launch of a communication-satellite, showing the
accompanying long lasting waste-parts in close-earth-orbit from
rocket-staging. A collision of the newly installed satellite with
space-debris at several thousand meters per second will be the end to
this short video, resulting in even more particles in earth-orbit.

This whole installation will be made accessible via the school’s
homepage, too.

---------------------

In another project phase our own solutions and ideas to reduce the
problem in the future will be the focus of our efforts.

​