Kicker: Misplaced in space

CHUCK SCHUMER: Mr President, I ask unanimous consent.

NICK EICHER, HOST: It was unanimous, no debate the Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023.

CLERK: The Senate will proceed.

That’s Congress-Speak for Clear the Junk Out of Earth Orbit, and Do It Now. Did you know there are nearly a million pieces pieces of space-ship flotsam and jetsam in orbit?

This bill aims to clean that up.

We’re talking old satellites, paint chips that shook loose. There’s a spatula, if you can believe it, a spare glove, and now one more thing: a big specialty tool bag that’s worth a cool 100K. Evidently it slipped out of the astronaut’s hands.

You can actually see this thing from earth if you know where to look.

NASA says there aren’t any rescue plans at this point. But they’ll need to move quickly if they change minds. It’s got to to be done before March, because after that it’s expected to burn up in the atmosphere.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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