ESA and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (which runs several space missions including the Messenger probe now orbiting Mercury) are proposing a joint experiment to test impact deflection of an asteroid. A JHU-APL spacecraft would ram into an asteroid while an ESA spacecraft would monitor the impact and its effects on the object.

• Asteroid deflection mission seeks smashing ideas – ESA – Jan.15.12
• High impact factor space R&D : ¨AIDA¨ Call For Experiment Ideas – ESA
• Asteroid Impact & Deflection: Assessment (AIDA) Mission – Opportunities and Tests in a US-Europe Space Mission Cooperation – ESA – May.25.12 (pdf)

Asteroid Impact Monitor Design 

Leonard David writes about the Sling-Sat concept for space debris removal developed by Daniele Mortari and Jonathan Missel at Texas A&M: “Sling-Sat” Idea for Removal of Orbital Debris – Coalition for Space Exploration.

The problem of space debris and the Sling-Sat debris removal system are depicted in this short film:

The latest presentation to the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) study group is now posted in the FISO Working Group Presentations Archive. Both slides (pptx) and audio (mp3) are available for the talk, An Overview of Disruption Tolerant Networking Technology and Applications, Kevin Gifford, University of Colorado – January 16, 2013

The  explosion of a Russian Proton Briz-M upper stage last October resulted in a huge debris field in orbit: Upper Stage Explosion Places LEO Satellites at Risk –  Space Safety Magazine

The explosion of a failed launch vehicle upper stage on 16 October created thousands of new debris which pose collision risks to hundreds of  satellites operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), including the International Space Station (ISS).  Fortunately, the threat will be relatively short-lived with the majority of the debris expected to reenter the atmosphere within one year.