SpaceX Takes Radical Step to Protect Residents After Space Debris Falls

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SpaceX is facing growing criticism over debris from its Dragon spacecraft that has been found on American and Canadian soil. To ensure the safety of residents, Elon Musk’s company has decided to modify its recovery zones and procedures.

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Dragon ship // Source: SpaceX

It has been several years now that SpaceX revolutionized space transportation with its Dragon spacecraft, used for cargo and manned missions to the International Space Station. However, the latter left behind unexpected debris that poses a potential hazard for terrestrial populations. Faced with this situation, the company is forced to review its security protocols to prevent further debris falling on inhabited areas.

At the end of July, SpaceX announced a major change in its operations recovery of his Dragon shipsUntil now, the modules of the latter were recovered near the coast of Florida, but this proximity to inhabited areas has led to a worrying increase in debris falling back on American and Canadian soil. Local authorities have expressed concern after the discovery of several large fragmentssome measuring more than a meter, in North Carolina and Saskatchewan. A Florida resident even recently filed a lawsuit against NASA after space debris destroyed his home last April.

SpaceX Returns to Pacific Ocean to Avoid Dangerous Debris Fall

The debris found comes mainly from the Dragon ships’ trunk, an unpressurized module that separates from the habitable part before re-entry into the atmosphere. Although the latter is supposed to disintegrate completely upon re-entering Earth, some fragments However, they manage to reach the ground. To solve this problem, SpaceX decided to go back to its old practices, making land its modules in the Pacific Oceanfar from inhabited areas.

At the same time, NASA and SpaceX have agreed to no longer include in the trunk any large parts of the ISS that might not burn up completely during atmospheric re-entry. This decision aims to minimize the risk of potentially dangerous falling debris. In addition, the modification of the landing zone of the Dragon ships should reduce the risks to the populations and allow the company to continue its missions while ensuring better security for the inhabitants of the areas concerned.

Source: SpaceX

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