Scientists test tether to clear up space junk

Kind of like electromagnetic fly-paper. Cool idea.

Goes to show that in the end, all humans really do is turn a mysterious and wonderful world and universe into trash. We trash our neighbourhoods, the oceans, forests and even space. We seem to be an evolutionary error. Or did god drink some bad wine that day?

Seems like an interesting idea, but I wonder if all of the debris will really fully disintegrate before it can impact, or will some make land fall? I guess if some debris hits Chinese government buildings or military bases, it's no biggie. As long as it doesn't hit me or Japan, I'm not all that bothered to be honest.

JT, if you are going to post diagrams, please do so at a size where the font is legible?

Dual use technology. One can use that to attack enemy satellites. Just scoop it up. Clever.

The only problem I have is that the biggest perpatrators for littering space is not lifting a finger to clean it up and although Japan had some done in the past is actually doing a lot to clean it up.

All nations who litter outer space should help to pay for this project because is't everybody responsibility to clean up space junk.

Sounds like a great way to burn up some more ozone.

And got to love the "artist's impression". A bunch of science challenged people (most people) just had a minor panic attack.

Carbon tax and next it will be Space Tax .

Hate to state the obvious or underplay the importance of the mission, but shouldn't they be developing a "Fukushima radioactive debris tether" first?!

So War is peace?? Yup! We humans have done many bad things to our one and only Mother Earth, but I am quite sure that if we put our heads together we can over come all of this space junk!!