Latest News About Space Junk and Orbital Debris
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Latest about space junk
Space junk cleanup mission to launch in 2026 aboard Arianespace rocket
By Elizabeth Howell published
A spacecraft operated by Swiss startup ClearSpace will target a piece of debris in orbit after getting there aboard Arianespace's Vega-C rocket.
NASA satellite crash not source of mysterious flash of light above Ukraine capital, agency claims
By Ben Turner published
A blinding flash of light set off air raid alerts across Ukraine’s capital city. Officials at first thought it was a falling NASA satellite, but the space agency has said it isn’t.
SpaceX Dragon debris lights up sky in bright fireball over western US during reentry (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
Debris from a SpaceX Dragon broke up over several states in the western US early Thursday (April 17). SpaceX asks residents to report any debris they come across.
Dead NASA satellite crashes to Earth over the Sahara Desert
By Mike Wall published
NASA's dead, 660-pound (300 kilograms) RHESSI spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday night (April 19) near the Sudan-Egypt border.
Dead NASA satellite will crash to Earth this week
By Mike Wall published
NASA's defunct, 600-pound (270 kilograms) RHESSI spacecraft will reenter Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday (April 19) at 9:30 p.m. ET, plus or minus 16 hours, the U.S. military predicts.
Space debris problem spurs a bold change in US government regulations
By Elizabeth Howell published
The Federal Communications Commission will create a new Space Bureau to work with regulations regarding space debris, space safety and other low Earth orbit needs.
Cosmic 'highway code' could help combat the space junk threat
By Robert Lea published
New guidelines from governments and the space sector include "rules of the road" that could help reduce risky collisions between space junk and spacecraft.
Private 'Jackal' inspector satellites to get 1st in-space test this year
By Mike Wall published
Colorado-based startup True Anomaly, which aims to help keep the U.S. on top in space, plans to launch its first two "Jackal" spacecraft to orbit this October.
China plans to use parachutes to control its rocket debris problem
By Andrew Jones published
China is finalizing testing of a parachute system to help control falling rocket debris downrange.
This mysterious streak of light over California is actually an old space station antenna meeting its doom (video)
By Josh Dinner published
St. Patrick's Day revelers in Sacramento, California witnessed an old piece of the space station burn up in the atmosphere on March 17.
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