The North-West University (NWU) has achieved a milestone with its first-ever publication in the journal Nature with Prof Thembinkosi Malevu of the subject group Physics sharing possible solutions to the risks posed by space junk.

Co-authored with Prof Richard Ocaya from the University of the Free State, the research focuses on the risks posed by space debris, pieces of old satellites and rockets, falling back to Earth.

The study highlights incidents where large metal fragments have crashed in places like Kenya and Uganda. As more satellites are launched into space, the chance of debris falling into populated areas increases, creating risks for people, buildings, land and air traffic.

The study explains that many space agencies and companies do not have clear plans for removing old satellites from orbit. Most of these satellites fall back to Earth, making it difficult to predict where they will land.

The research also discusses international agreements that hold countries responsible for damage caused by falling space debris, but these agreements were created before modern satellite technology and do not fully address today’s challenges.

The researchers warn about a possible chain reaction in space where pieces of debris collide with working satellites, creating more debris that could make space travel and communication systems unsafe. They point out that many small fragments are too tiny to track, making it difficult to prevent accidents.

The study calls for better monitoring systems and stronger rules to manage space traffic and prevent dangerous collisions.

To reduce the risks, the study suggests solutions such as better satellite designs that ensure old equipment burns up safely in the atmosphere. It also explores possible cleanup methods, including robotic arms, nets and lasers that could remove large pieces of debris from orbit.

The NWU’s first publication in Nature is an important step in addressing global challenges related to space safety. The study contributes to discussions on policies, environmental impact and the future of space exploration.

*The journal Nature, established in 1869, is a multidisciplinary science journal that has a 90.0 CiteScore, according to Scopus, a SCImago journal rank of 18.509 and a Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) rating of 10.010. Nature is not to be confused with journals in the Nature Portfolio.

Prof Thembinkosi Malevu