GeoLog

space environmental impacts

Space debris: Borrowing the planet from our children- Why we need to mitigate space desecration

January 17, 2025
Space debris: Borrowing the planet from our children- Why we need to mitigate space desecration
Photo taken by Peter Bo

On December 11, 2024, while taking part in AGU’s 2024 Annual Meeting, I attended a press conference hosted by experts from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Michigan that focuses on the serious risks posed by space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As we are heading towards an increasingly crowded space environment, the question on everyone’s mind is: What can we do to ...[Read More]

Was that a meteor or a re-entry ? The final frontier for satellites when their mission ends

November 15, 2024
Was that a meteor or a re-entry ? The final frontier for satellites when their mission ends
Picture taken by Nick Uwuor

Like humans, satellites have a lifespan. These machines orbiting high above Earth serve various critical purposes that range from monitoring weather systems and tracking greenhouse gases to studying the cosmos. But even the most advanced satellites reach a point when their electronics wear out, their fuel depletes, and their missions come to an end. When their time is up, what becomes of these tir ...[Read More]