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Space Junk

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

Latest Updates

The South Korean science fiction film "Space Sweepers" launches on Netflix Feb. 5, 2020.

Netflix reveals 1st teaser for 'Space Sweepers,' a South Korean sci-fi film about space junk salvage

By Elizabeth Howell

"Space Sweepers," a South Korean science fiction film about space junk salvage crews, launches on Netflix on Feb. 5.

A diagram showing the path of 2020 SO, which is likely a Centaur upper stage from a lunar mission launched during the 1960s.

So 'asteroid' 2020 SO was actually 1960s space junk. It may be the first of many to come.

By Meghan Bartels

Astroscale's ELSA-d mission will launch in March 2021 to test space junk-removal tech.

Astroscale to test space junk cleanup tech with 'ELSA-d' launch in 2021

By Mike Wall

Technology that could help humanity get a handle on the growing space-junk problem will get an orbital test early next year.

Artist's depiction of the A-train constellation of Earth-observing satellites, with times the spacecraft are separated by when they fly.

Planned satellite constellation poses a collision threat, NASA says: reports

By Mike Wall

AST & Science's planned SpaceMobile network could threaten the "A-Train" group of Earth-observing satellites, according to NASA.

Artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starship vehicle near the moon.

SpaceX's Starship may help clean up space junk

By Mike Wall

SpaceX's next-gen Starship system may help clean up Earth orbit when it's not taking people and payloads to the moon and Mars.

An artist's depiction of a near-Earth asteroid.

The strange story of 2020 SO: How an asteroid turned into rocket junk and the NASA scientist who figured it out

By Meghan Bartels

As soon as he saw the data, Paul Chodas knew something was strange about the near-Earth object that had been designated 2020 SO.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, LeoLabs calculated. Thankfully, a smashup seems not to have occurred.

Phew! 2 big hunks of space junk zoom safely past each other in near-miss

By Mike Wall

The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, according to LeoLabs.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision is higher than 10%, LeoLabs has calculated.

2 big pieces of space junk could collide Thursday night

By Mike Wall

Two big pieces of space junk are zooming toward a close approach that will occur Thursday (Oct. 15) at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT on Oct. 16), according to California-based tracking company LeoLabs.

International Space Station

What is a Satellite?

By Elizabeth Howell

Artificial satellites from Earth have only populated space since 1957, but there are now hundreds of thousands of objects from our planet in orbit.

The International Space Station, photographed by Expedition 56 crewmembers from a Soyuz spacecraft in October 2018. NASA astronauts Andrew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev executed a flyaround of the orbiting laboratory to take pictures of the station before returning home after spending 197 days in space. 

Astronauts take shelter as space station dodges orbital junk

By Mike Wall

The International Space Station just dodged a fast-moving hunk of orbiting junk.

NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1, or OGO-1, is seen in orbit on Aug. 25, 2020. The satellite launched in September 1964 and falls to Earth on Aug. 29, 2020.

56-year-old NASA satellite expected to fall to Earth this weekend

By Mike Wall

The OGO-1 geophysics satellite's long space odyssey is nearly at an end.

Space junk is making low Earth orbit crowded.

Three big threats to satellites — and what to do about them (op-ed)

By Herbert O. Funsten

The more congested space is, the more contested it becomes, creating challenges for both national and global security.

An artist rendering of the Drag Racer experimental mission, which includes two satellites to test space debris deorbit technologies with and without a space tether.

Experimental DragRacer satellites will test 'Terminator Tape' for space junk cleanup this fall

By Samantha Mathewson

An experimental mission to collect orbital debris is slated to launch this fall to test the deorbit performance of two identical satellites.

Space junk is making low Earth orbit crowded.

Space junk: Astronomers worry as private companies push ahead with satellite launches

By Martin McCoustra

Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, the lower orbit around the Earth has become an increasingly congested environment.

Artist's illustration of StartRocket's planned Foam Debris Catcher extruding junk-snagging foam.

Foam 'spider webs' from tiny satellites could help clean up space junk

By Mike Wall

The Russian startup StartRocket is developing a "Foam Debris Catcher," a small, autonomous satellite that would snag and de-orbit space debris using sticky polymer foam.

A blue fireball streaks across the sky.

Mysterious blue fireball streaks above Western Australia, puzzling astronomers

By Stephanie Pappas

Scientists aren't sure if space junk or a meteor caused a brilliant blue fireball seen across Western Australia.

Early satellite-spotting pioneers. In this 1965 photo, volunteer satellite trackers in Pretoria, South Africa, were part of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Moonwatch Network, one of more than 100 teams worldwide.

How amateur satellite trackers are keeping an 'eye' on objects around the Earth

By Leonard David

Around the planet, a loosely knit but closely woven band of amateurs monitor the whereabouts of satellites — be they secretive spacecraft, rocket stages, orbital debris or lost space probes.

An artist's concept of the orbital debris field around Earth, based on real data from the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office.

Avoiding space debris might require new legal framework, US lawmakers say

By Elizabeth Howell

The ever-growing number of satellites in space prompted calls for change at a House hearing, although how this will be legislated is still under consideration.

An artist's depiction of satellites orbiting Earth.

Satellite crashes, asteroid impacts and space weather pose big risks, US lawmakers say

By Elizabeth Howell

One of the most pressing problems when it comes to keeping our planet safe from space threats is data, which sounds so simple to address. It's not.

A conceptual image illustrating space debris orbiting Earth.

Satellite 'license plates' and re-igniting rocket fuel could head off space junk crashes

By Mindy Weisberger

In low Earth orbit's growing "space junkyard," new technologies could reduce the risk of collisions.