Mission to clean up space junk with magnets set for launch

[smp]

From CNN:
"A demonstration mission to test new technology developed by the company Astroscale to clean up space debris is set to launch in the early hours of Saturday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/19/business ... index.html

I don't know if the launch has occurred on schedule, or not, but this certainly is an interesting mission.

smp

[John Donne]

Interesting indeed.
Like the magnet roller I used to pick up roofing nails after the job.
Unfortunately it does not capture aluminum nails.
I wonder what the necessary mass would be on new satellites to make this magnetic system work.
The other thing I wonder as I read the post is how are they going to find the dangerous small stuff that is too small to be found and maneuvered around now.
I guess that would be where the net comes in.
Thank you SMP.

[helicon]

Very interesting article and concept. Thanks Stephen.

[Richard]

Well the amount of 'junk' must be increasing at an alarming rate , it should be that if you send something up then you must clean up after but unfortunately these satellites last a long time so the company may not be around any more perhaps the cost should include clean where a global company cleans?