Looking for Some Clear Space

Resonate Testing has joined with The Queen’s University of Belfast, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, to support a project to help deal with the problem of so-called space junk.

The partnership with the Northern Ireland Research Cube Sat programme (NIRCSAT) aims to develop a cost-effective system to deal with the increasing problem of orbiting debris in space.  The project aims to design and develop an innovative solution for space debris removal.

Over the years the amount of material orbiting the earth has increased, from non-functional spacecraft, abandoned launch vehicle stages, mission-related debris, and particularly numerous in Earth orbit, debris from the breakup of derelict rocket bodies and spacecraft.

Space debris represents a risk to spacecraft and if not dealt with, may stop future launches or damage existing satellites.

Resonate Testing’s Managing Director Tom Mallon said, “Projects such as this are vital to the ongoing and future exploitation of space. If we don’t clean up after ourselves, we may reach a point where we are effectively earth-bound. With our extensive testing experience in the aerospace and space sectors, we are confident that we will be able to help with the development of an innovative space debris removal system and we recognise the potential impact this project could have on the space industry.”

Queen’s University Professor Gasser Abdelal, the lead on the project, commented, “This is a serious issue and this concept, which has been supported by Resonate Testing is one possible solution. We need to act now and try to tackle the space debris problem to ensure further space development is not compromised.”

This innovative project and other topics will be up for discussion at the UK Space Conference which is taking place at the ICC Belfast from 21 to 23 November 2023.