Space Junk, StarLink and Falling Rockets with Moriba Jah - Cosmic Queries

What do we do with all this space junk? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice answer questions about the stuff we put into orbit with astrodynamicist and space environmentalist, Dr. Moriba Jah. How much stuff and how many satellites are really up there?
Discover how Moriba discovered his field and his path to studying objects in orbit. What’s the magnitude of the problem with space junk? You’ll learn just how many objects are in low earth orbit and who is responsible for them. What do we do about parts that fall out of orbit toward earth? Is there any way to control it? Do we have any space junk laws?
We talk about the space debris of different government space projects. Who’s responsible for falling debris? Is the U.S. guilty of this? Can we create a “great junkyard in the sky” in a Lagrange point? Are satellites at risk of colliding with each other? We break down regulations that should be made to manage objects in orbit as we enter a new era in space travel. Should there be space traffic laws?
Are all these objects making the sky brighter? Find out about how space objects impact light pollution for hobby astronomers and researchers alike. Is all this stuff in the sky going to make stargazing difficult? Are there any solutions to limit how many satellites are in orbit? We discuss plans to remove space junk and how world governments need to coordinate on this. Is our orbit a new wild wild West? Are there any upsides to space junk? All that, plus, find out about eyesonthesky.org and space lasers!
Thanks to our Patrons Louis Smith, Dana Fambro, David Johnston, Tracy Fox, Charlene Hale, Lucas Pires, and Paulina Banach-Mazur for supporting us this week.
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.
About the prints that flank Neil in this video:
"Black Swan” & "White Swan" limited edition serigraph prints by Coast Salish artist Jane Kwatleematt Marston. For more information about this artist and her work, visit Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. inuit.com/
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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
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[@CJGospel]

I like this guy's sense of humor. Meshes well with Chuck and Neil.

[@chancemeyers8502]

I agree with you. Seems like a very eager, yet understandable and caring scientist like Neil

[@justchaz.]

Getting Chuck and locking him into this show, was the most brilliant thing Neil has done. lol.

[@ImHimTheAlpha]

Your 100% right.

[@ImHimTheAlpha]

But it's not the most brilliant.

[@rude49er]

I don't even watch when it's some wanna be comedian who does the show with no love or enthusiasm... Love ya chuck. Especially when absolutely shreds people's names haha.

[@puffybooboo]

I love the both of them. They're a great combo. 👍

[@amasaro70]

Tyson and Chuck have excellent chemistry

[@tonib5899]

"Dont let others opinions become your reality". Doctor Moriba you are wise with that one single principle. By the way thankyou for helping save our only home.

[@einarhornraiser9019]

This was terrific! Please, *please*, have this guest on again!

[@moemoneysouth]

This format is quite enjoyable, you get to see the hosts and the guest is the same frame without all those bouncy cuts . It’s interesting. whatever works , even bring back the bouncy cuts from time to time .

[@MrSean03839]

Wow, Neil was tooling on Chuck the whole show. I like Chuck's follow up questions and I suspect many others do!

[@lautabott_uy]

I need more episodes with Moriba Jah.

[@user-pe1lr4lb5o]

Chuck should get his own interview podcast! #LetChuckAsk

[@mikevaljean9468]

Hey, Chuck, ask your questions using fake patreon names. Satisfy your curiosity!

[@ergocaustic3473]

:D I just thought he would ask one saying it's a question from Charles Neece

[@sierramccall7066]

Ÿ😅 fr ff youn I’m b Mn moon kk John big no

[@Imogen_V]

an episode recommendation: neil and chuck reacting to a sci fi film/sci fi parts of a film!

[@peterharrington3717]

Ha! Perfect. Like MST3K. But these guys watch popular movies like "Gravity" and call out all the incorrect science... "Wait, that's not how gravity actually works!"

[@droid2645]

Chuck is on the J.O.B. TODAY!!! You go Chuck.

[@djcruiser9816]

Great episode on how we need to protect the final frontier.

[@Purpletrident]

Dang this Violeta girl has some brains on her every episode. Another super insightful episode!

[@nekoeko500]

Every time Chuck says Violeta I say "there she comes... she's doing it again". I mean, let's not put pressure on the girl. But she's definitively a smart girl

[@iamgroot4080]

Yeah... And hers appearance so often doesn't feel staged... At all... Um... Yeah...

[@Purpletrident]

@@iamgroot4080 Really making a conspiracy theory over a 12 year old girl? Go outside.

[@carolinecoward469]

Sandford and Son in Space. That's brilliant!!!

[@ourunstablemind]

Chapters on timeline will be helpful 🙏 especially for longer videos 👍 Regards Joy

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

When adults used to tell us “you won’t be able to get t a job with a crazy hair color or crazy piercings” they were clearly lying.

[@flavioa6351]

Nah they’re right for most cases

[@darylingoteborg3178]

Become a hairdresser or run a piercing/tattoo studio 😄

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

@@flavioa6351 idk if that’s true anymore lol. I feel like not hiring someone just because how they look is a big no no now.

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

@@darylingoteborg3178 I dont have piercings or crazy hair, I’m js

[@Silhouex]

They weren't lying in the 90s. You would've struggled to get a job with such a look then.

[@topform5071]

Loved this episode, Educational. Keep looking up

[@lghammer778]

Wonderful episode, thanks, StarTalk!

[@annn.3615]

Praise Jah

[@celesteschacht8996]

Love all of you!!!!

[@prostobardak]

man Chuck is a legend or what! 😂

[@iamgroot4080]

I'm choosing "what"

[@ivanfiodorov6429]

At 40th minute of the video i though:"hm, strange, that 15-minutes are quite long", didn't even realize that was full episode of CQ

[@crisstryna_mma1622]

This was a brilliant episode thank you.

[@alexandermartin1837]

Great! Im looking forward for that *collaboration* with The Exoplanets Channel !!

[@johnmarcus1200]

Me too !!

[@wileyjohnson6880]

Put a atom bomb up there light the fuse and run

[@madeincda]

I read from the Chucktionary daily!

[@tehgrey_gamr]

Another informative and entertaining video

[@Sparklespit666]

Amazing content this should definitely be more discussed and Moriba… you seem like an a may person and super cute too 😘❤️ lol thank you tho for being there and voicing your opinions on what we should be doing ❤️

[@ReginaldDj1]

Thank U Neil DeGrasse Tyson For Doing This One I Don't Know It U Heard My Request For This Topic Or Not But Once Again Thank You !!!!!

[@sicfxmusic]

OK But Why Do You Capitalize Every Word? !!!! And Use 'U' For You And Not '4' For For?

[@ReginaldDj1]

That's The Way I Roll Lol 😂🤣🤣🤣

[@jwhizard_1822]

Using this video to help with my engineering ethics paper on "Space Junk"

[@iaov]

Fantastic!!

[@msshannonigans]

Dope video. Dope guys. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 The way Dr Moriba speaks... he could be Obama's cousin. Not what he says... but his cadence.

[@cmdargument]

As a former "guard for nukes" it was a missed oppurtunity to hear Dr. Moriba's pontification on the minuteman iii accident 2008.

[@corgi42069]

43:35 you had me at "orbiting space laser"

[@elizondorj]

How can a scientist speak about 110%? Dude, 100% is ALL there is, where are you getting extra stuff into the Universe? Can we please agree that 100% is all of the Universe, all of your energy, all your talent and there ain't nothing more? Nice of you talking about Skylab, in Australia they love to talk about the piece that fell in Camberra. :-)

[@moribajah]

Agreed, was a matter of speech

[@SerDunk]

Keep looking up 🌎

[@aarone1777]

I say we design a wedge shaped obstical to be strategically placed in the path of a piece of junk. So when the junk comes speeding along; it will hit the wedge and be deflected either up and out away from earth; or down to be burned up on reentry!

[@FillyNilly]

One of the best visual aids to learn about the phenomenon known as extreme third-wheeling.

[@evelynesimon5758]

I have always wondered why these two push the humour simple, as I am short of time and just want the info. But having chatted with a few Elon Musk's little shields..about space.. I can see that the popularisation of space science has to reach these depths to conquer some. Kudos to you.

[@Shane-RocketMan]

Thoughts on Elon's Tweet about Starship collecting or "chomping up" Space debris with its open/closable nosecone fairing?

[@interwebfiend]

Andy Griffith was in a short lived TV series called “Salvage 1” back in 1979. As a kid I thought that would be a job in the future, this makes it sound like it should be so.

[@droid2645]

Right and it's time has come. There is a huge need for it now.

[@glenncurry3041]

So how do I suggest a topic? Analog or digital? Do you have a turntable?

[@ArtBoudoirLondon]

It took a lot of resources to get that junk into space! It could be a resource for future space projects. It could be remotely directed to a specific sector, further out in space. Burning everything isn’t a perfect solution. We need Space Sweepers.

[@tonib5899]

An individual with enough satellites could control access to huge part of solar system access, you will need exact coordinates of thousands of starlinks to get through. Most spacecraft use the solar plane. This needs to be kept clear.

[@juliewood823]

Love Neil ❤️❤️❤️love Star talk

[@RetNemmoc555]

I always want to know more about the guest during the intro instead of just a brief bio. What is their major area of interest or research, etc. Let them go into their subject a bit so we know what motivates them. Also, more about the reason for the episode. State the problem, the implications, why this particular guest was invited on, etc. The show is fun, but interesting guests should be tapped more for their knowledge.

[@mohamedmada4159]

The look of pure fear on Chuck when Neil started talking about cosmic queries is everything 😂😂😂😂

[@jeremyrodriguez324]

Just finished listening on Spotify! What a paradigm shift!

[@samanthanor332]

You are amazing

[@anthony..23]

Gracias

[@YakobtoshiNakamoto]

Just a note on Starlink. The Starlink “train” is only visible when they are deployed. Upon deploy they tumble for the next 48-72 hours. This tumbling reflects sunlight causing them to be visible. Once they’ve settled into orbit they aren’t visible. Elon said himself that SpaceX even have trouble finding them sometimes.

[@jk35260]

They are visible in the infrared red band.

[@LE8271]

When a 5th element character becomes real

[@anewman]

GIMME THE CASHHH

[@raukoring]

He looks freaking awesome imo

[@ManaBDew]

The Kepler effect. 👻👍 An absolute

[@patrickborunda4749]

There is an anime, I think it was called Planets or Planetes that fallowed people who cleaned up space junk.

[@reynaldogonzalesgodofthemu8492]

To think now or to think not to be that is the question

[@rhinabhaditya2160]

Chuck's jokes are the best, he is the best part of startalk

[@murasaki848]

This guy's the real life Rich Purnell (astrodynamicist from The Martian, played by Donald Glover).

[@Chris-hx3om]

Was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@TheMerriell]

Chucktionary!

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Just don't ask about names...

[@moemoneysouth]

Wow I was just catching up my the Neil x joe rogan episodes and was listening about the space junk . Looked up the space junk office really fascinating stuff . I wonder if they are tracking that Tesla up there too 🤣.

[@mickeybrumfield764]

Think Chuck gets a lot of his material from the Sanford and Sons show.

[@sophiamarchildon3998]

DAYUUMMM!!!!

[@jesusquinones5457]

I just want to get a patreon account to allow chuck to ask his questions 😅

[@mizalamizala2317]

Please do a show his thoughts on paranormal, ghost and or spirit..

[@glennalderton1313]

Chuck's been reading the dictionary.

[@ManaBDew]

😳 Wow Ironically I was thinking 🤔 💭 about this topic today Mr. Neil comments saying. I said to myself at times the most important things for context Breakthroughs like fire 🔥 the splitting of the atom electricity ⚡️an so on. Is because somewhere a person discovered something which never comes to light. I’m certain you can understand. From brother 👻 Boo.

[@neverpure20]

Are you guys going to do a breakdown for the show LOKI? There's a lot of juicy multiverse stuff in there :)

[@sunsunsunh]

"sheerly" is on the Oxford English Dictionary

[@boomshotta]

I love how Moriba doesn't conform his appearance to the status quo, even with his high level role in his field of work.

[@IMAX]

John Connor to his 12 year old self, "Remember, Starlink is Skynet, Skynet is Starlink..."

[@nickelsin7170]

So if we chose to use the moon as a "landfill" how would that affect the moon gravitationally? We'd be adding mass to the moon, and depending on where the trash landed, we could get it spinning again, right? Can we keep the moon from leaving us behind in the long run? Or potentially add to much trash causing the moon to start moving towards Earth?

[@nickelsin7170]

Nvmd, I want to say no because we'd essentially be moving mass from Earth to the moon, so gravitationally, nothing would change. The only thing we could change is the rotation of the moon with a landfill on one side or the other of our tidal field.

[@ZigZagKid_AZ]

You guys should do a Marijuana video.

[@AstroAri504]

I did some digging and learned Mr. Jah won the MacArthur. I would love any tips. Conveniently the MacArthur page has blocked the comments on every video featuring Mr. Jah. I just wanted to know if sleep deprivation and homelessness is a part of the grant. So far that's all I've been dealing with. I had lots of plans as to how I would use it. Etiquette class, a car, etc. I was sleeping in my car but someone stole it, and I'm unable to report it as stolen for whatever reason.

[@eddiecampbell3514]

Hey, how do I get ahold of Neil?? My daughter has a few paintings she would love to show or share with him .she's painted in paper as well as on canvas..some have planets and stars..

[@W00lveR1ne]

Try twitter.

[@theduder2617]

I would say to contact him through the Hayden Planetarium where he is director. But they have shut down any and all acceptance of physical mail, so I am unsure if he will even consider looking at the artwork. You for sure will not be able to contact him via social media anymore as they have taken a strict stance against taking questions and/or comments from outside of paid members from patreon. Best chance is via the following link. Choose "General comments drop box" and explain your intent. You'll notice that all other options for contacting him are reserved for specific entities, not the general public. Sadly, he is becoming less about the people and so much more about the green money. HOWEVER, if you manage to contact him directly, I am absolutely certain he would LOVE to see her artwork. It is the producers who are the ones forcing him to focus more on money. www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/contact.php

[@Games_and_Music]

Nice episode, but come on Neil, do you have to sheerly nitpickingly talkingly downly on Chuck whenever he shows some excitement? :P

[@danielvermeer3363]

I'd love to have a chucktionary haha

[@sumanrao1739]

So you need a Space Traffic and Junk Treaty just like we have a High Seas Treaty and are in dire need of an Earth Systems Treaty.

[@Zany_gohan]

Who a goodie from Neil

[@mikekelley8111]

The new superhero Jetpack Jones starring Chuck

[@zaw2654]

The Singularity of a Black Hole is the Big Bang for that specific Universe/Galaxy. Civilization and historical events happen in roughly 12,000 year cycles called Epochs/Holocene. We live in the Human Era Epoch Holocene. On the Gregorian calendar it is the year 2021. On the Holocene calendar it is 12,021.

[@oldschoolman1444]

It's not a big surprise that space is littered with garbage, all you have to do is look at what we've done on earth.

[@jacksnavely559]

Space recycling center for further space settlement and expansion 🔔🕭🔔

[@420Kasper]

But Moriba, was it DMT or Acid?

[@charlesharman7690]

The movie "Gravity"

[@notsure5425]

I have a question I have always looked up to the night sky in awe. Though lately a enigma has taken root in my mind and I hope I'm not sounding to dence or ignorant or just uneducated.... Why does it not matter in which direction the Earth is facing regardless of dominant zodiac constellations we are always facing the Milky Way.... Are we tidally locked to the Milky Way? Sorry about the Zodiac thing that was basically the only way I could explain this season

[@calapsesathir4408]

Wish I had a banana for scale. Lol jk. Make a dot with a pencil, then grab an apple. Were the dot and the apple is everything else.

[@MemphiStig]

anybody else remember "Salvage One"? i've been waiting for it to happen irl since it first aired bitd

[@keynotes6]

At 9:03 "Thou shalt do something that's useful for humanity". And at 38:00 Chuck spits this and Neil shuffles "It is emblematic of our greater problematic disposition here on Earth"

[@aprilk3002]

Is there a possibility of space junk salvage? Anyone remember the 1979 show Salvage?

[@waynehays2558]

Yes, I like the way these videos have been going lately. I'm also a fan of a little junk in the trunk, hehehe.

[@Silhouex]

Maybe we should set up a recycling center at one of those lagrange points. Attach the recycling center to a massive 3d printer. Send solar powered drones to round up space junk to convert it into new satellites/equipment.

[@KirksMerkin]

Hey, Neil! My dude - have you ever read Rendezvous To Rama by Arthur C. Clark? If not, you should. It was written in 1973, and I’m curious how you felt about the science behind it. Its basically some bros from the 22nd century who come in contact with a “ʻOumuamua” and find out it’s an alien Space Ark. It’s got everything! Various G environments! Bio-robots! Vectors! Orbital breaking! Fascinating ideas about how an Ark would work - preservation methods, biospheres, maintenance and on and on!

[@gnotes85]

Neil looked baked out of his mind in this one 😆

[@abramporras7877]

I thought that too but then I thought maybe he was just annoyed by chuck

[@calapsesathir4408]

It happens to POC as we get older. He's not high.

[@Eremon1]

Humans are supposed to be the sheppards of the Earth. We're doing a terrible job.

[@solojammer9500]

I'm sure this guy have a metal band as well

[@benjaminthomas2078]

Yeah sure. He always looks kind of angry...

[@theduder2617]

Still trying to figure out his hair. lol It didn't keep me from paying attention to the discussion, but it sure made me come back to it afterwards. I have grey hairs but I'm mid 40. He really does not look old enough for grey hair. Then again, work can do crazy stuff to a body when things are stressful. Is that grey hair? Or am I projecting my grey hair onto others via a video somehow? lol

[@moribajah]

I’m 50 😬

[@theduder2617]

@@moribajah WHAT?? Well, the rest of your body does not represent 50. I was thinking more around 30. What ever you are doing, it's keeping you looking young. It's working. lol Best wishes sir! May life and gravity continue to be nice to our bodies.

[@moribajah]

@@theduder2617 many thanks 🙏🏾 idem

[@bigcity2085]

All of our orbital debris has been put up there by some of the smartest people on the planet. Plus we even blew some of it up. Just to prove we could. Aren't we smart.

[@jmanj3917]

I was thinking of that Satellite Hub myself, about ten minutes before Chuck said it. That's a great idea! There will be problems which will have to be worked out beforehand, like IT security, maintenance, etc. But it's doable.

[@DaBlondDude]

If there's a functional cell phone in orbit, we all know it's a Nokia, still charged ;) A space tax would require an overseeing body or federation/board. Not sure what I think about that

[@attractedtothemetallikemag9385]

100%

[@3rd_ear]

Afrophysics & Jahfrophysics!

[@HarleyShauz]

Are you Ok?

[@TheDrumrhythm]

Werd. #OneEarth

[@usern4metak3ns]

That's kinda funny but weird at the same time. So be more funny

[@3rd_ear]

@@usern4metak3ns perhaps you don't know what weird is ;) try Sun Ra kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpuUeZZ4pqiXnpo

[@alexandermartin1837]

And the exoplanets channel!!

[@HYDESCRAZY]

So they move the space station if junk is coming but not 100% effective at 300 miles up,so all the launches are carefully planned apparently and/or its a hit or miss.

[@lorddukfoxyzeppeli7921]

space vacum cleaner please when?

[@Bl00dMalice]

I came here to see if there was an answer about the massive amount of deorbiting StarLink satellites to occur each year starting in a few years and the possible environmental and health consequences of the aerosols. I didn't hear anything about that. But I hope it can be discussed at some point in the future. Thanks. 30:50 - I also find this truth tragic. Frustrating as a Millennial seeing how boomers have wrecked the world for us and we have to fix it.