Question

space flight. in 2010, nasa and the u.s. military launched a space - based space surveillance system (sbss) to monitor more than 500,000 objects currently orbiting earth. the objects range in size from as small as a marble above earth, augmenting existing telescope and radar systems that track space junk from the ground. unlike ground systems, however, this satellite doesnt encounter weather problems. engineers use this data to design flight paths in orbits that are free from debris. they also anticipate collisions and strategically move spacecraft out of the way. sometimes these evasive techniques arent possible or even practical, as in the space stations near - miss with a satellite fragment. even when they do succeed, this avoidance isnt decreasing the existing volume of space junk. scientists are now searching for ways to relocate objects to safer orbits or to eliminate them completely. a current nasa experiment involves focusing a laser on pieces of space junk to prod them away from spacecraft or cause them to deorbit. the laser might also be used to completely obliterate debris. hitting a fragment at a distance of more than 400 miles, however, requires extreme laser precision. the defense advanced research projects agency (darpa) has other cleanup ideas. its study, dubbed operation catchers mitt, proposes using a massive net carried by a satellite to pull space trash together, like in a giant garbage bag. the space mitt would use an umbrella to corral tiny bits of waste as well as employ magnets to use space trash together. debris caught in the mitt would be pulled toward earth and would burn up as it enters earths atmosphere. thats an enormous task, as the space mitt would need to catch about 20,000 objects larger than a softball to successfully clear out all of the current junk in space.
in paragraph 8, what does the comparison \like in a giant garbage bag\ help readers understand?

1. how the space mitt uses magnets
2. how the space mitt gathers waste
3. how the mitt is connected to a satellite
4. how waste trapped in the mitt burns up

Explanation:

The text describes a "space mitt" and a "giant garbage bag" as proposed solutions for dealing with space junk. The comparison "like in a giant garbage bag" helps readers understand the concept of the space mitt as a device that could corral tiny bits of waste, similar to how a garbage bag holds trash.

Answer:

1. how the space mitt uses magnets