US military satellite fragments threaten the spacecraft

The explosion of a US military satellite may cause problems for spacecraft orbiting the Earth.

The spacecraft is threatened by fragments of US military satellites

The 13th satellite of the US Air Force Military Meteorological Program (DMSP-F13) exploded in space on February 3, after having an electrical system problem. Lead researcher Francesca Letizia of the University of Southampton, UK, and colleagues discovered 100 new fragments of DMSP-F13 . The explosion created more than 50,000 pieces less than 1 mm in size.

Image simulating the trajectory of satellite DMSP-F13 debris.(Photo: University of Southampton)

"Although many fragments are no bigger than small balls in the tip of a ballpoint pen, they can neutralize a spaceship in a very high-speed collision ," Space quoted Hugh Lewis, team member. expert, said.

Scientists mapped out the process of spreading DMSP-F13 satellite fragments by applying new techniques. They considered fragments as a liquid to analyze their movements, then assessed the risk of collisions with spacecraft circling the Earth.

The results showed that the small debris of DMSP-F13 could actually collide with a number of satellites , especially the satellites of the US and Russia in the solar orbital orbit.