Solving the Space Junk Crisis Isn't Just About Counting Trash—It’s About Control and Economics

Misconceptions About Cleaning Space Debris

When people think about clearing space debris, they typically picture a giant sky garbage truck hauling dead satellites and lost tools back to Earth. However, orbital dynamics and space operations do not work in such a simplified manner.

New Study by Dr. Slava Turyshev

Dr. Slava Turyshev of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, traditionally known for his work on the Solar Gravitational Lens concept, authored a new paper available as a pre-print on arXiv. The study revisits the core challenges of space junk management.

Focus on Economics and Control

The paper argues that tackling the orbital debris crisis goes beyond counting or retrieving space trash. Effective solutions depend heavily on precise orbital control and establishing viable economic frameworks to manage active and inactive spacecraft.