Latest Debris Stories

Experts gathered in Vienna, Austria this week to discuss solutions to deal with vast amount of space junk that is clogging up the Earth's orbit.With a recent satellite collision still fresh on their minds, some suggested that a massive cosmic cleanup is the best way to solve the problem, while others argued that improving information sharing is a better way to address the issue.The informal talks, which arose from concerns about the February 10 collision of a derelict Russian spacecraft and...

In an unprecendented event, two satellites collided on Tuesday, creating thousands of pieces of potentially dangerous space debris. A US commercially-owned satellite collided with a crippled Russian military satellite in low-earth orbit. The commercial satellite was owned by Bethseda, Maryland-based Iridium Satellite LLC, which characterized the event as "extremely unusual.""We believe it's the first time that two satellites have collided in orbit," said Air Force Colonel Les...

Astronomers from Caltech and NASA say a strong shower of Leonid meteors is coming in 2009. Their prediction follows an outburst on Nov. 17, 2008, that broke several years of "Leonid quiet" and heralds even more intense activity next November."On Nov. 17, 2009, we expect the Leonids to produce upwards of 500 meteors per hour," says Bill Cooke of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "That's a very strong display."Forecasters define a meteor storm as 1000 or...

U.S. scientists are looking for a way to clear the clutter in space, which some say is becoming troublesome on the heavenly highways. Launchspace Training, an organization that trains space professionals in Bethesda, Md., is asking for suggestions on cleaning up the litter, Space.com reported. So far, ideas have fallen into two buckets -- limiting new debris and eliminating existing debris. The space junk problem is increasing, in part because of collisions between materials in space, rocket...

By Anonymous There's a new Dumpster in town, and its marine debris contents will help generate electricity, thanks to a joint venture between Waste Management, Blue Ocean Society and the University of New Hampshire. Located at the Yankee Fishermen's Cooperative in Seabrook, the Dumpster - donated by Waste Management - is part of the N.H. Marine Debris-to-Energy Project, which since April has been collecting marine debris, abandoned fishing gear and other items that can harm the marine...

By Staff Report Here is a status report on the tree debris removal for Centerville and Washington Twp. residents: Centerville Centerville public works crews will be assisting city property owners over the next several weeks with the removal of tree limbs and other treerelated debris from the Sept. 14 windstorm. Property owners are asked to take all tree-related debris to the curb. Do not place any debris in the roadway or block the sidewalk. Cutting and bundling is not required for...

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, the world's longest undeveloped barrier island, now looks as if people have been living - and dumping - on it for decades. || Tons of debris swept up by Hurricane Ike last month was carried by Gulf of Mexico currents hundreds of miles from the upper Texas coast to this ordinarily pristine landscape just north of the Mexican border. Sections of roofs, refrigerators, love seats, beds, TVs, hot tubs and holiday decorations litter...

By Bamford, Holly A McElwee, Kris; Morishige, Carey Creating Partnerships and Innovative Solutions to an Ocean and Coastal Threat In 2005, the receding iloodwaters of Hurricane Katrina deposited tons of material offshore, creating a marine debris problem hazardous to fishing and boating activities. Thousands of mi les away i n the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, more than 50 tons of derelict fishing gear accumulates in the shallow waters of these remote islands each year, damaging coral reefs...

A recent report by the National Research Council highlights the need for comprehensive plans to reduce ocean debris.Released Friday, the plan found that efforts to prevent and reduce ocean debris are inadequate and the problem will most likely become worse. The United States and the international maritime community should adopt a goal of "zero discharge" of waste into the marine environment, and a system to assess the effectiveness of existing and future marine debris prevention and...

"Fishing for Energy," an innovative partnership to recycle fishing equipment into energy, continues to catch on in New England by expanding to Chatham, MA. The "Fishing for Energy" partnership is an initiative between Covanta Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. to help coastal communities reduce the amount of abandoned fishing gear that ends up in...