Sinica Podcast Space Debris: How Can the U.S. and China Avoid the Tragedy of the Commons, with Nainika Sudheendra
Sep 19, 2024
In this engaging conversation, Nainika Sudheendra, a Schwarzman Scholar with a focus on space debris, reveals the urgent challenges of orbital clutter and its implications. She discusses how the U.S. and China can collaboratively address this crisis, likening it to a tragedy of the commons. Nainika explains the potential hazards posed by space debris, shares innovative mitigation strategies, and highlights the importance of global cooperation. She also emphasizes the need for data standardization and public awareness to navigate future space sustainability.
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Space Debris as Infrastructure Bottleneck
- Nainika's focus on space debris stemmed from her work at Walmart, where she realized satellites were crucial for infrastructure.
- Space debris poses a threat to satellites, which are essential for drones, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and robotics.
Learning About China's Space Program
- Nainika's knowledge of the Chinese space program was limited before Schwarzman, primarily from news reports.
- Through Schwarzman, she gained insights into the Chinese space community and learned about their focus on cost-cutting and imitation at scale.
Measuring and Tracking Space Debris
- Space debris is measured by piece, tracked by organizations like the Space Surveillance Network and LEO Labs.
- Even small debris, like a fingernail, can cause damage to spacecraft due to its high velocity.
