Space sustainability

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/space-sustainability

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the kessler syndrome?A theoretical cascade of collisions leading to an unnavigable debris-filled orbit
2. What is the key societal dependencies?Global communication, navigation (GPS), financial transactions, weather forecasting, and climate monitoring
3. Why is space debris a problem?Space debris is leftover junk from rockets and satellites that moves very fast. It can hit working satellites and make it hard to use space.
4. What could happen if we don't clean up space?If too much debris builds up, it could cause many collisions, called the Kessler Syndrome, and make space unsafe for satellites that help with phones, GPS, and weather.

Space Sustainability: The principle of ensuring the long-term safety, security, and accessibility of the space environment for all users.
Space Debris: Non-functional man-made objects in orbit, posing collision hazards to operational spacecraft.
Orbital Commons: The shared environment of Earth's orbits, considered a global resource requiring careful management.
Active Debris Removal (ADR): Technologies and missions designed to capture and remove existing space debris from orbit.