China is set to enhance its protocols for managing space debris around the Tiangong space station in the wake of a partial loss of power caused by debris impact on its solar panels. This move follows successful spacewalks by astronauts during the Shenzhou 17 mission, highlighting concerns over space debris threats posed by micrometeoroids and human activities in orbit.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the agency plans to improve its debris tracking capabilities, optimize collision warning procedures, and install protective reinforcements on Tiangong. These measures aim to mitigate the risks posed by space debris, which is a growing concern for both the Tiangong space station and the International Space Station (ISS).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) currently tracks over 43,000 space objects as of April 2024, including more than 7,500 active satellites, according to SpaceTrack.org and the Union for Concerned Scientists. The presence of human-generated orbital debris has necessitated strict guidelines for the ISS, requiring maneuvers to avoid debris within a designated “pizza box” area around the station.
China’s Tiangong space station has also executed maneuvers to evade debris impacts, and CMSA Deputy Director Lin Xiqiang outlined several measures to prevent future issues. These include enhanced orbit forecasting, optimized collision warning and avoidance procedures, and a reduction in false alarm rates by 30%.
Upcoming measures also involve increased video monitoring of Tiangong using a high-definition camera on its robotic arm, as well as tasks assigned to the Shenzhou 18 crew, scheduled to launch on April 25, to install space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables, and critical equipment.
While NASA and China work separately in space matters due to the Wolf amendment, both agencies have been forming independent coalitions for lunar exploration. NASA’s Artemis Accords have garnered support from nearly 40 nations, while China, in collaboration with Russia, has announced three new partners for its own coalition: Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science.
