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NotScientific · Feb 20, 2004, 08:02 am

I bet you haven’t ever wondered about pollution of space. Yes, man started polluting space ever since Yuri Gangarin (first man in space) saw Earth in its entirety.

Earth is not only orbited by satellites but also by paint particles, pieces of glass and even apparatus used by astronauts in the past. These may be small (that’s what we think – I mean maybe there’re not) but note that if ever a spanner were to hit an astronaut’s face shield, the latter would break down into fragments. The astronaut would, for his part, go straight up to heavens (or down in hell) and there would also be even more pollutants in space (the shield fragments).

Now, for those of you who have ever bothered to reflect upon space pollution, did you know that microscopic fragments also make up the space pollutant family? I didn’t until I read an article (link below) from The Guardian newspaper.

Anyway, where was I? Yeah, there are even more things out there that are considered as pollutants. I read about particles invisible to the human eye and undetectable by Earth radars. Best thing though: they have the explosive power of a bullet!!!

With more and more satellites, probes and men in space, no doubt that pollution is going to rise. We really have to prevent this. How? Till now, space pollution has not proved to be a major threat to us, inhabitants of the earth. So, naturally there does not appear to be any hurry to find a solution. NASA though has put a small probe in a swarm of space debris so as to know them better. But as I just said, nobody is really caring about space pollution right now although I should think that in some fifty years (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating), this may well transform into one of those many threats to life on Earth!

If you have read this column up till now and are still undisturbed about space pollution please make a final effort and read this final paragraph (my last attempt to pass the message)

Astronauts’ faeces are also (well in the past they were) released in space. Imagine me (a cool guy and proud guy) walking one hot day back home. All of a sudden, ‘splash’, I receive an astronaut’s faeces on top on my head!

Now that you are (finally) convinced about the main adverse effect of space pollution, read this article again and. Thrust me, you will be looking out at the sky and waiting for something to fall down, ‘Splash’!

____________________________________________________________________________
That's the first article in what I hope will be a long time running column named 'Not Scientific Science'
____________________________________________________________________________
This column also appeared at BackWash.com

tman_ndsu08 · Feb 20, 2004, 12:51 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by
I bet you haven’t ever wondered about pollution of space. Yes, man started polluting space ever since Yuri Gangarin (first man in space) saw Earth in its entirety.
<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

Space is not an tangible entity. It is simply a location in which matter exists.

"Pollution" is nothing more than matter...which exists in the domain of space.

So what?

tusaki · Feb 20, 2004, 01:23 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (tman_ndsu08,)
So what?<hr size="1" /></blockquote> Well, he is talking about debris in space which accellerate to such speeds that even a tiny little piece of foil can become disasterous for space flights. A good example of how a small piece of matter can cause an accident is the Columbia disaster. It has everything to do with relative velocities.

Space debris is a recognized threat to future space flights. I doubt that in current space ship designs Astronauts’ faeces is released into space.

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astr...rs/970411a.html
<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by
4. HOW DO ASTRONAUTS GO TO THE BATHROOM AND TAKE CARE OF OTHER PERSONAL HYGIENE?
Each Space Shuttle has a toilet that can be used by both men and women. Designed to be as much as possible like those on Earth, the units use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system.

Solid wastes are compressed and stored on-board, and then removed after landing. Waste water is vented to space, although future systems may recycle it. The air is filtered to remove odor and bacteria and then returned to the cabin.<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

Feb 20, 2004, 12:51 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by I bet you haven’t ever wondered about pollution of space. Yes, man started polluting space ever since Yuri Gangarin (first man in space) saw Earth in its entirety. <hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> Space is not an tangible entity. It is simply a location in which matter exists. "Pollution" is nothing more than matter...which exists in the domain of space. So what?

Feb 20, 2004, 01:23 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
tusaki Playful Location: Groningen, the Netherlands Posts: 805	</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (tman_ndsu08,) So what?<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> Well, he is talking about debris in space which accellerate to such speeds that even a tiny little piece of foil can become disasterous for space flights. A good example of how a small piece of matter can cause an accident is the Columbia disaster. It has everything to do with relative velocities. Space debris is a recognized threat to future space flights. I doubt that in current space ship designs Astronauts’ faeces is released into space. http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astr...rs/970411a.html </span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by 4. HOW DO ASTRONAUTS GO TO THE BATHROOM AND TAKE CARE OF OTHER PERSONAL HYGIENE? Each Space Shuttle has a toilet that can be used by both men and women. Designed to be as much as possible like those on Earth, the units use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system. Solid wastes are compressed and stored on-board, and then removed after landing. Waste water is vented to space, although future systems may recycle it. The air is filtered to remove odor and bacteria and then returned to the cabin.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> Hope & Dream

Feb 20, 2004, 08:02 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
NotScientific Molten Ash Location: Mauritius Posts: 35	I bet you haven’t ever wondered about pollution of space. Yes, man started polluting space ever since Yuri Gangarin (first man in space) saw Earth in its entirety. Earth is not only orbited by satellites but also by paint particles, pieces of glass and even apparatus used by astronauts in the past. These may be small (that’s what we think – I mean maybe there’re not) but note that if ever a spanner were to hit an astronaut’s face shield, the latter would break down into fragments. The astronaut would, for his part, go straight up to heavens (or down in hell) and there would also be even more pollutants in space (the shield fragments). Now, for those of you who have ever bothered to reflect upon space pollution, did you know that microscopic fragments also make up the space pollutant family? I didn’t until I read an article (link below) from The Guardian newspaper. Anyway, where was I? Yeah, there are even more things out there that are considered as pollutants. I read about particles invisible to the human eye and undetectable by Earth radars. Best thing though: they have the explosive power of a bullet!!! With more and more satellites, probes and men in space, no doubt that pollution is going to rise. We really have to prevent this. How? Till now, space pollution has not proved to be a major threat to us, inhabitants of the earth. So, naturally there does not appear to be any hurry to find a solution. NASA though has put a small probe in a swarm of space debris so as to know them better. But as I just said, nobody is really caring about space pollution right now although I should think that in some fifty years (ok, maybe I’m exaggerating), this may well transform into one of those many threats to life on Earth! If you have read this column up till now and are still undisturbed about space pollution please make a final effort and read this final paragraph (my last attempt to pass the message) Astronauts’ faeces are also (well in the past they were) released in space. Imagine me (a cool guy and proud guy) walking one hot day back home. All of a sudden, ‘splash’, I receive an astronaut’s faeces on top on my head! Now that you are (finally) convinced about the main adverse effect of space pollution, read this article again and. Thrust me, you will be looking out at the sky and waiting for something to fall down, ‘Splash’! ____________________________________________________________________________ That's the first article in what I hope will be a long time running column named 'Not Scientific Science' ____________________________________________________________________________ This column also appeared at BackWash.com