Latest News About Space Junk and Orbital Debris
The amount of trash in Earth orbit, from spent rocket stages, broken satellites and micrometeoroids, is growing. Scientists are working on methods to combat the threat of space junk and orbital debris collisions.
Related Topics: International Space Station, Incredible Space Tech, Military Space, NASA
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
Latest about space junk
Big, dead satellite's crash was a space-junk wakeup call, experts say
By Leonard David published
The uncontrolled reentry of the European Space Agency's defunct ERS-2 satellite was a reminder that operators should plan out the safe demise of their spacecraft.
Near miss! NASA satellite, dead Russian spacecraft zoom past each other in orbit
By Mike Wall published
NASA's TIMED Earth-observation satellite and a dead Russian spacecraft nearly slammed into one another high above our heads this morning (Feb. 28).
Dead, 5,000-pound satellite is falling to Earth today. Will any debris survive the fiery reentry?
By Leonard David published
A European Space Agency spacecraft is making an uncontrolled nosedive into Earth's atmosphere – with elements of the 2.3-ton spent satellite likely to survive the plunge into purgatory.
Rocket Lab launches ADRAS-J space junk inspection satellite for Astroscale (video)
By Mike Wall last updated
Rocket Lab will launch an ambitious space-junk inspection mission for the Japanese company Astroscale this morning (Feb. 18), and you can watch the action live.
SpaceX deorbiting 100 older Starlink satellites to 'keep space safe and sustainable'
By Brett Tingley published
SpaceX announced it will deorbit 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites in order to lower the number of spacecraft that might fail and become non-maneuverable.
Big, dead European satellite will crash back to Earth this month
By Mike Wall published
The European Space Agency's defunct ERS-2 spacecraft will fall into Earth's atmosphere in a week or so, in a death dive that its handlers will monitor carefully.
Steve Wozniak's start-up Privateer develops ride-sharing spacecraft to reduce orbital clutter
By Tereza Pultarova published
Steve Wozniak's space sustainability start-up Privateer launched a prototype of its Pono space module to encourage users to share 'stuff' in space.
Startup True Anomaly snags $100 million for space security work
By Mike Wall published
True Anomaly just raised $100 million in funding, which the company will use to continue developing its space security technology.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!