How much space junk do you reckon is orbiting the earth at the moment?

The figures are astounding.

The United State Space Surveillance Network is currently monitoring some 15,000 pieces of space debris.

When it comes to items between 1 and 10cm across, the estimates range from 200-900 thousand of those, just looking for trouble….  looking for something to smash into… whether it be the International Space Station, a communications satellite or a spacecraft carrying cashed-up tourists!

Queensland researchers have just been given a half-a-million-dollar grant to tackle the issue….

The project is a collaboration between the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales and the University of Maryland

The lead investigator is Professor David Buttsworth from USQ, who joined me on the show.

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