3 Sustainability Lessons from The Pac Man Solution - http://clapway.com/2015/07/07/3-sustainability-lessons-from-the-pac-man-solution/

The Swiss are not big fans of littering and they are taking their environmental consciousness to the next level by cleaning up their spaces. After launching small satellites in space, their next plan of action is to take them out of orbit.

One reason for the launch of this project is the negative effect space trash may have on other satellites and astronauts. Also, EPFL wants to test a practical system for cleaning up space junk. The EPFL settled on what they call, the Pac Man solution. A satellite that would trap smaller satellites with a net and would then burn everything as it de-orbits.

The Swiss are making great strides in making the universe a cleaner space for future research. We should learn from their example and take steps to cleaning up our planet. Here are three sustainability lessons we can learn from the Pac Man solution:

Lesson #1: Plan for the Future

The EPFL is thinking about the impact space junk has on future satellite launches. You should be aware of your impact on the environment for the sake of your grandchildren, your great grandchildren, and so on. Everything we do to our planet could have long term affects that can be very scary for future generations. Picture chaotic natural disasters taking place everywhere. Don’t condemn your future family to such an awful fate!

Lesson #2: Clean Up Your Mess

Don’t litter, just don’t do it. It makes you look really lazy and rude. Put your trash where it goes and take responsibility for the things you leave behind. This is something you should have learned in elementary school but some people just couldn’t grasp the concept.

Lesson #3: Get Creative

The EPFL tossed out a lot of proposals for how to go about cleaning up space and eventually settled on the Pac Man solution. Get creative when recycling and don’t be afraid to reuse some of your junk. Turn your trash into something magnificent. Your trash can be your treasure.

Take a page from the Pac Man solution and clean up the planet. Be responsible, think about the future, and be creative when being environmental friendly. Like Captain Planet always said “the power is yours!”

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Nature in space and at home are way too beautiful to waste. For nature lovers, Atmoph brings nature to you!:

3 Sustainability Lessons from The Pac Man Solution

Classic #Pac-man -- eating up all the junk in space! - http://clapway.com/2015/07/06/switzerland-wants-to-send-pac-man-to-space-to-eat-space-junk-224/

The Swiss have devised a plan to clean up space junk and it involves sending Pac-Man to do the job.

SPACE IS COVERED IN GARBAGE

Space is littered with all sorts of garbage like old satellites and used rockets. NASA continually tracks more than 500,000 pieces of space debris. Many of these pieces are small, but they still pose a large threat to spacecraft and to the International Space Station.

NASA and other space organizations, both public and private, are developing ideas and technologies for dealing with the growing problem of space junk.

THE PAC-MAN SOLUTION

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) launched its CleanSpace One project in 2012 to facilitate the goal of removing space junk from orbit. After exploring possible ways to remedy the problem, EPFL has devised its “Pac-Man” solution.

The idea behind this solution is to launch a special satellite into space. Once there, a net is deployed, enabling the satellite to gobble up a piece of space junk.

“This system is more reliable and offers a larger margin for maneuvering than a claw or an articulated hand,” explains Michel Lauria, professor of industrial technology at Hepia Geneva.

GOING OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY

After this “Pac-Man” satellite captures its target space junk, the two objects will go out in a blaze of glory. The objects will de-orbit and combust in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The interesting design and function of the giant Pac-Man satellite was a collaboration between microengineering students from Hepia Geneva, and students and professors from the University of Applied Science Valais and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland.

LAUNCHING IN 2018

Researchers say the CleanSpace One Pac-Man solution could be ready to launch as soon as 2018. The development team has already passed the prototype stage and is ready to develop engineering models for extensive testing.

The target space debris for this mission will be EPFL’s own SwissCube satellite that has been in orbit for more than five years.

Featured Pac-man in Space image also by writer Jason McClellan.

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How will Pac-man even have the energy for cleaning up space in all that darkness? Sun LifeLight would be his bestie:

Switzerland Wants to Send Pac-Man to Space to Eat Space Junk