97% Of Us See Space As A Threat, We Fear Asteroids And We’re Worried About Space Junk Says Study

Science 97% Of Us See Space As A Threat, We Fear Asteroids And We’re Worried About Space Junk Says Study Jamie Carter Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I inspire people to go stargazing, watch the Moon, enjoy the night sky New! Follow this author to improve your content experience. Got it! Jul 2, 2022, 08:00pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen in this time exposure from Cocoa Beach, Florida.

NurPhoto via Getty Images Are you scared of space? If you are, then don’t be—your fear is purely the result of the space industry being terrible at selling itself. And a lack of regulation about “space junk. ” That’s the conclusions from a new report entitled What on Earth is the value of space? from satellite company Inmarsat, which asked 20,000 people globally about their perceptions and feelings of what’s happening in space.

The results are stark, revealing that: 97% of people globally see space as a threat. One in nine people are terrified of what could happen in space. Space junk and collisions in orbit (47 per cent), pollution (39 per cent), and damaging the Earth’s atmosphere (35 per cent) are perceived as the top threats.

Gen-Z is twice as likely to associate space with aliens, Star Wars and billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos than older generations—and the latter are more optimistic about space. “This report should be a wake-up call for our industry,” said Rajeev Suri, CEO of Inmarsat. “Space appears to be under-appreciated and misunderstood in the real-world.

In many respects, the knowledge we possess as a society is inaccurate and incomplete. ” While news stories obsess about satellite debris, falling asteroids and environmental damage, the other side of the story isn’t being told. One of the most alarming discoveries was that 36% of respondents say they don’t view communication satellites as essential.

“People may not realize how the voice and data they rely on comes from satellites,” said Scott Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut. “How they navigate in their cars, planes, etc. , relies on space technologies.

Even when they use an ATM, the timing signal comes from a GPS satellite. If we eliminated this technology, people would notice very quickly. ” MORE FOR YOU New Research Finds A Connection Between Domestic Violence And These Two Personality Disorders This Scientist Helps Andean Forests And Ecuador’s Women In STEM Exceptional Fossil Preservation Suggests That Discovering Dinosaur DNA May Not Be Impossible How do we know so much detail about the damage to our planet caused by humans? And the spread of droughts and forest fires? Satellites, that’s how.

However, with almost 10,000 tonnes of satellite and rocket objects currently in Earth’s orbit—and an estimated 130 million pieces of space debris—Suri also called for responsible space exploration and stricter regulation on mega-constellations. The fear of space appears to be partly a western phenomenon. Almost half of respondents in China believe space can provide a new source for essential resources versus a third globally.

Respondents in South Korea and the UAE are similarly positive. “Space can enable a better way of living for all on Earth, but public support will make or break this vital contribution to a better future,” said Suri. “Space needs a new narrative, and it is time for us to define its value to the world .

. . having come so far we cannot afford to destroy the gift of space through poor stewardship, fear, ignorance or inaction.

” Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Check out my website or some of my other work here .

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