Thanga Proposes New Tech to Help Satellites Dodge Space Junk

If a disastrous, "worst-case" space junk chain reaction called the Kessler effect ends up surrounding Earth with a belt of destructive shrapnel, assistant professor Jekan Thanga may have a solution.

As reported by Space.com, and presented by Thanga and team at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference in September, state-of-the-art infrared cameras and gel-based rockets might help future satellites dodge such debris. 

"Given how a whole bunch of companies are now proposing megaconstellations that would cram up to thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit, it's not a matter of if but when these things start to collide and cause this ripple effect of accidents," said Thanga.