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
Space junk cleanup tech that could 'shepherd' debris into Earth's atmosphere gets US patent
The Japanese space-sustainability company Astroscale has unveiled a patent for what it describes as a new method for space debris removal.
Satellites keep breaking up in space. Insurance won't cover them.
Cheap, uninsured satellites are creating more space junk — and it's starting to rain down on our heads.
A failed Soviet Venus probe from the '70s crashed to Earth in May — why was it so hard to track?
"Being off even a little bit represents hundreds or thousands of kilometers in distance on the surface of the Earth."
2 Chinese spacecraft just met up 22,000 miles above Earth. What were they doing?
A new Chinese refueling spacecraft met up with an older satellite in high Earth orbit this month, apparently marking a step forward in orbital servicing.
Satellites are polluting Earth's atmosphere with heavy metals. Could refueling them in orbit help?
In-orbit servicing and refueling could help curb the environmental harm done by the space industry. But will operators subscribe to the greener business model? The jury is out.
Failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 crashes to Earth after 53 years in orbit
The Soviet Union's failed Kosmos 482 Venus lander fell back to Earth today (May 10), bringing a five-decade space odyssey to a dramatic end.
What the Soviet Venus Probe's fiery fall to Earth might look like: These past space junk crashes offer clues
Recent sighting of spacecraft and debris burning through the atmosphere during their plummet back to Earth offer some clues as to what the reentry of a failed Soviet Venus lander might look like.
Old Soviet Kosmos 482 Venus lander's fall to Earth will be no ordinary space junk crash. Here's why
The Soviet Union's failed Kosmos 482 Venus probe will fall back to Earth from orbit soon, and it may well make it to the ground in one piece.
