Space debris is becoming a very serious problem, not only putting every astronaut or private passenger who visits Earth's orbit at risk, but also delicate satellite networks and, of course, the International Space Station. With that in mind, the Japanese resupply mission HTV-6, alternatively known as Kounotori 6, will test KITE, a 700-meter electrodynamic tether whose main function will be to force space junk to burn up in the atmosphere.
After the loss of Progress 65, all eyes turned to Japan, awaiting the launch of HTV-6 or Kounotori 6 (as you prefer). That launch was carried out successfully last Friday, and according to available information, the spacecraft will arrive at the International Space Station next Wednesday. On Kounotori 6's manifest, we find basic provisions like food and water (600 liters), as well as several CubeSats, and six lithium-ion batteries that will replace the current nickel-hydrogen batteries. However, that's not all. Kounotori 6 also carries two very interesting experiments. The first is called SFINKS, and it will evaluate ultrathin solar cells in space. The second is what brings us together here today.
Its official name is KITE, an acronym for Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment, and in simple terms, it's a 700-meter rope that will capture space debris. The tether will be able to change its position relative to the spacecraft, using force generated by an electric current and Earth's magnetic field. In the demonstration video, we see KITE moving a particularly large piece of space debris and forcing its reentry into the atmosphere, although the real question is how it will perform with smaller pieces. In theory, this rope made of aluminum and steel could stretch up to 10,000 meters long, assuming results are positive.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhRiPot8DtEJAXA indicated that KITE's performance will be monitored through cameras, which opens the possibility of some videos in the future. However, we must wait a little longer, because the tests will begin once Kounotori 6 has finished its visit to the International Space Station. One way or another, Kounotori 6's fate is to burn up in the atmosphere along with KITE and the station's waste, which includes the retired Ni-H batteries.
