Planets, Debris, and Us: Planet formation, its aftermath, and human activities in space

行星、碎片和我们：行星的形成、后果和人类在太空中的活动，通过研究行星动力学、其他恒星周围的尘埃、小行星和陨石的组成部分，解决了行星和系外行星科学中的多个问题。它还处理空间可持续发展面临的一项重大国际挑战：轨道碎片（空间垃圾）。长期目标是确定产生不同类型行星系统的过程；确定行星形成盘和嵌入行星系统的尘埃/碎片形态之间的联系；研究太阳系碎片；提出研究近地小行星的太空任务概念，并对行星防御产生影响；并建立一个空间态势感知计划，以表征轨道碎片，以支持建立可持续的空间利用实践。这项工作旨在解决的具体问题包括：（行星）行星系统是如何形成的？为什么太阳系看起来与紧凑的系外行星系统不同？（行星碎片）在行星形成盘中，什么过程导致环状结构的形成？陨石的组成部分是反映了行星形成的基本步骤，还是这个过程的副产品？我们能否开发小行星交会航天器，在小行星上放置信标，进行长期动态监测和行星防御演示？（轨道碎片）地球同步轨道上大小相当于和小于10厘米的碎片场是什么？这项研究调查了行星的诞生，并试图将太阳系与现在已知存在的许多世界联系起来。这项工作是解决银河系其他地方是否存在生命的一步，对课堂和社区都有广泛的影响。它还寻求探索我们不断变化的空间环境，更好地了解近地天体对地球的风险，近地天体是太阳系形成的残留物。在离地球更近的地方，轨道碎片研究使人们关注到我们自己的行为对太空持续发展的威胁。考虑到我们对空间资产（例如天气预报、全球卫星导航系统、通信、农业、金融交易、林业、渔业、气候科学、搜索和救援以及救灾）的日益依赖，轨道碎片和地球轨道槽不可持续发展的危险数不胜数。空间研究，无论是行星的起源还是轨道碎片的监测，都能激发每个人的想象力，从专业天文学家到小学生。科幻小说有了生命，给人们提供了一种方式，尽管是抽象的，与浩瀚的宇宙联系起来。这种联系有助于引导人们进入STEM领域，培养下一代批判性思考者。

The program Planets, Debris, and Us: Planet formation, its aftermath, and human activities in space addresses multiple problems in planetary and exoplanetary science by studying planetary dynamics, dust around other stars, asteroids, and components of meteorites. It also addresses a major international challenge to the sustainable development of space: orbital debris (space junk). Long-term objectives are to determine processes that give rise to different types of planetary systems; determine connections between dust/debris morphologies in planet-forming discs and embedded planetary systems; study Solar System debris; advance a space mission concept that would study near-Earth asteroids, with implications for planetary defence; and establish a space situational awareness program to characterize orbital debris in support of building sustainable practices of space use. Specific questions this work aims to address include: (planets) How do planetary systems form? Why is the Solar System seemingly different from compact exoplanetary systems? (planetary debris) What processes give rise to the formation of ring-like structures in planet-forming discs? Do components of meteorites reflect fundamental steps toward planet formation or are they byproducts of that process? Can we develop asteroid rendezvous spacecraft for placing beacons on asteroids for long-term dynamics monitoring and planetary defence demonstrations? (orbital debris) What is the debris field in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit for sizes comparable to and less than 10 cm? This research investigates the birth of planets, and seeks to put the Solar System in context with the many worlds now known to exist. The work is a step toward addressing whether there is life elsewhere in the Galaxy and has broad implications in the classroom and in the community. It also seeks to explore our evolving space environment and better understand the risks to Earth from near-Earth objects, which are remnants of the Solar System's formation. Closer to home, orbital debris research puts into focus the threat that our own actions have on the continued development of space. Considering our growing dependence on space assets (e.g., weather forecasting, global navigational satellite systems, communications, agriculture, financial transactions, forestry, fisheries, climate science, search and rescue, and disaster relief), the dangers of orbital debris and unsustainable development of Earth orbital slots are numerous. Space studies, whether the origins of planets or the monitoring of orbital debris, have the power to pique the imaginations of everyone, from professional astronomers to elementary school students. Science fiction has come to life, and gives a way for people, albeit abstractly, to relate to the vastness of the universe. This connection can help to steer people toward STEM fields, creating the next generation of critical thinkers.