Basura espacial: ¿cuáles son los riesgos para internet y el GPS?

Los escombros orbitales viajan a más de 25.000 km/h, convirtiéndose en proyectiles capaces de causar graves daños, incluso siendo partículas diminutas.

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[{"selector":"#anim-8412ee08-085c-47fb-97a7-1619a1acce9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e4c34bb-f9c0-4797-a37d-0c68cce680f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 236.34260%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] El 27 de junio de 2024, los astronautas a bordo de la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS) tuvieron que refugiarse en una cápsula de emergencia cuando los restos de un satélite ruso destruido pasaron peligrosamente cerca de su trayectoria.

Aunque el equipo pudo retomar sus actividades en una hora, el evento puso de manifiesto el creciente peligro de la congestión orbital. Incidentes como este no son aislados.

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Hay más de 29.000 fragmentos mayores a 10 cm, 670.000 entre 1 y 10 cm, y más de 170 millones menores a 1 cm en órbita, todos representando riesgos para satélites y misiones espaciales.

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Una colisión inicial en el espacio podría desencadenar una reacción en cadena de fragmentaciones, inutilizando grandes áreas de la órbita terrestre y complicando futuros lanzamientos espaciales.

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La basura espacial amenaza la operatividad de satélites responsables de GPS, internet, televisión y monitoreo climático, servicios cruciales en la vida diaria.

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La mayoría de los satélites y estaciones espaciales operan en esta región, donde la basura espacial puede permanecer activa durante décadas o incluso siglos en órbitas más altas.

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Se están desarrollando tecnologías como velas de frenado para acelerar la desintegración de satélites, aunque su implementación enfrenta altos costos y limitaciones.

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Las Naciones Unidas han impulsado acuerdos internacionales para gestionar los residuos espaciales, pero carecen de mecanismos efectivos de cumplimiento.

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