Radar for monitoring space debris to be installed in Japan by 2023
The Ministry of Defense of Japan plans to install the first radar specially designed to monitor space debris in the Earth's orbit. The radar will be installed on the territory of Japan by 2023.
The radar will be located on the territory of one of the facilities of the Japanese self-defense forces in the western Yamaguchi Prefecture. Its main task will be to obtain operational information on the movement of debris alongside Japanese satellites in order to correct their orbit in the event of an immediate collision threat. The radar is also intended to be used to monitor the possible use of weapons to destroy spacecraft.
The Japanese Defense Ministry plans to spend about 4.4 billion yen ($ 38 million) for this purpose. As expected, the required amount of funds will be included in the state budget for 2018 fiscal year (beginning April 1, 2018).
According to the UN, there are about 300 thousand objects of space debris weighing up to 5 thousand tons in orbit. Experts fear that in the event of a collision, a cascading effect may occur, when debris become even greater, threatening spacecraft operating in orbit.
Over the past 30 years, the amount of space debris has increased severalfold, so the problem of cleaning it gets more acute. Specialists from different countries are working on its solution, offering their options, Tass reports.
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