Space Junk 3D movie poster.
Illustration of a space debris field as depicted in the film "Space Junk 3D."
An illustration suggests the many rocket launches that have caused space debris, from the movie "Space Junk 3D."
Each dot represents a bit of known space junk that's at least 4 inches (10 cm) in low-Earth orbit, where the space station and shuttles roam. In total, some 19,000 manmade objects this size or bigger orbit Earth as of July 2009; most are in low-Earth orbit. Countless smaller objects are also circling the planet.
US space surveillance animation as seen in the movie "Space Junk 3D."
One possible clean-up solution: a solar sail, as seen in the movie "Space Junk 3D."
Recycling station animation as seen in the movie "Space Junk 3D."
An illustration imagines a spaceship collecting space "garbage" in the movie "Space Junk 3D."
Retired head of NASA’s Orbital Debris, scientist Don Kessler beneath a starry night.
Cleaning lenses during 40 mph winds at Meteor Crater in Arizona.
Mixing 6.0 surround sound at Technicolor Toronto in the making of Space Junk 3D.
