Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 23 October 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 November 1998. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 November 1998 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment he has made of the potential threat to satellites of the Leonid meteorite shower in November. - Inc ref to report in Library Dep 98/1151.

Answer: Mr. Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential threat to satellites of the leonid meteorite shower in November; and if he will make a statement. [56935] Mr. Battle: The threat to satellites from the expected peaks in the Leonid meteor shower in November 1998 and in November 1999 has been assessed by the European Space Agency with support from the British National Space Centre. The results of the assessment have been circulated to satellite operators and the United Kingdom space industry. The assessment concludes that the meteor shower poses a particular risk around 17-18 November this year and the next few years and that it could damage satellites through physical impact or by electrostatic interference. A number of measures are recommended to spacecraft operators to minimise the risk. These include minimising the cross sectional area of the spacecraft facing the meteor shower, turning off sensitive equipment and reinforcing the operating team in order to cope with potential anomalies. I will send a copy of the report to the hon. Member and place copies in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information