Japanese scientists aim to remove junk from space with metallic tether

Japanese space scientists are set to test a tether they hope will help pull junk out of orbit around earth, clearing up tonnes of planetary clutter.

Researchers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) have developed what they called an electrodynamic tether made from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium.

The idea is that one end of the strip will be attached to one of the thousands of dead satellites or bits of rocket that are jamming up space and endangering working equipment.

The electricity generated by the tether as it swings through the earth's magnetic field is expected to have a slowing effect on the space junk, which should, scientists say, pull it into a lower and lower orbit.

Eventually, the detritus will enter the earth's atmosphere, burning up harmlessly long before it has a chance to crash into the planet's surface.

"The experiment is specifically designed to contribute to developing a space debris cleaning method," said Masahiro Nohmi, associate professor at Kagawa University, who is working with Jaxa on the project.