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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

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Illustration of a space debris field, as depicted in the film "Space Junk 3D."

Space Junk Menace: New Guidelines Urged to Help Fight Orbital Debris Threat

By Mike Wall

We can minimize the chances of a catastrophic cascade of collisions if satellite designers and operators follow a few simple rules, according to the Space Safety Coalition.

A computer-generated image of objects in Earth orbit that are currently being tracked. Approximately 95 percent of the objects in this illustration are orbital debris – not functional satellites. The dots represent the current location of each item. The orbital debris dots are scaled according to the image size of the graphic to optimize their visibility and are not scaled to Earth.

Scientists Propose New Satellite Tech to Dodge Space Junk from Megaconstellations

By Charles Q. Choi

New infrared cameras and gel-based thrusters just might help future satellites dodge space debris, a new study finds.

A Soviet satellite crash sparks a wildfire in "The Walking Dead" season 10 premiere "Lines We Cross" on AMC.

A Soviet Satellite Falls to Earth in 'The Walking Dead' Season 10. How Realistic Is It?

By Tariq Malik

The episode "Lines We Cross" ends with an old Soviet satellite crashing to Earth, sparking a new plot point for the show. But how realistic is it? We asked a scientist.

Image of the Jules Verne ATV re-entry by the DC-8 aircraft over the Pacific Ocean.

The Biggest Spacecraft Ever to Fall Uncontrolled From Space

By Mike Wall

A rundown of some of the biggest spacecraft to smash into Earth beyond their operators' control.

The crew aboard the International Space Station took this image of a full moon on Aug. 13, 2019. They snapped the photo while orbiting 270 miles above the South Pacific Ocean.

Watch Live Today! Slooh Celebrates International Observe the Moon Night Webcast

By Space.com Staff

It's International Observe the Moon Night and you can see spectacular views of the moon in a free webcast from the online astronomy telescope site Slooh.com. The show begins at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT).

Bigelow Aerospace's Genesis II prototype habitat captured this self-portrait in Earth orbit. (Bigelow Aerospace founder and president Robert Bigelow had the name of his granddaughter, Blair, stitched onto the habitat's exterior.)

No Space Crash: Dead Russian Satellite Just Missed an Old Habitat Prototype in Orbit

By Mike Wall

There was a 5.6% chance that Bigelow Aerospace's Genesis II experimental habitat and Russia's defunct Cosmos 1300 satellite would collide early this morning (Sept. 18). But it didn't happen.

A view of SpaceX's first 60 Starlink satellites in orbit, still in stacked configuration, with the Earth as a brilliant blue backdrop on May 23, 2019.

European Satellite Dodges Potential Collision with SpaceX Starlink Craft

By Mike Wall

A European Earth-observation satellite performed an evasive maneuver yesterday (Sept. 2) to make sure it didn't collide with one of SpaceX's recently launched Starlink internet craft.

The uncrewed Russian cargo ship Progress 72 burns up and breaks part in Earth's atmosphere in this photo taken July 29, 2019 by NASA astronaut Nick Hague on the International Space Station.

A Russian Space Cargo Ship Just Fell to Earth. See Its Fiery Demise!

By Tariq Malik

The Russian-built Progress cargo ship went down in flames (on purpose) on Monday (July 29) and a space station astronaut made sure to capture its fiery doom on camera.

A stack of Starlink satellites being prepared for launch. A five percent failure rate for the first set of 60 satellite has heightened concerns that megaconstellations could leave hundreds of dead satellites in long-lived orbits.

Starlink Failures Highlight Space Sustainability Concerns

By Jeff Foust

The failure of at least five percent of the first batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites has put a spotlight on the growing concerns with dead satellites in low Earth orbit.

A magentotorquer being melted as part of a European Space Agency project aimed at building spacecraft parts that are less prone to reaching Earth in large pieces at the end of a satellite's life.

Watch Scientists Melt a Satellite Part to See How Stuff Burns Up During Reentry

By Elizabeth Howell

European researchers melted a dense satellite part in a special space fire created in a lab in hopes of better protecting people on Earth from falling debris as satellites re-enter our atmosphere.

Artist's illustration of the OSCaR cubesat, which would clean up space junk in Earth orbit.

Meet OSCaR: Tiny Cubesat Would Clean Up Space Junk

By Mike Wall

A little spacecraft could soon make a big contribution in the fight against space junk.

Artist's illustration of Intelsat's IS-29E satellite in orbit.

A Communications Satellite Just Died in Orbit. It's Potentially Dangerous Space Junk Now

By Leonard David

Luxembourg-based Intelsat reports that its Intelsat 29E satellite (IS-29E) is now a total loss, after having reported earlier that the spacecraft suffered an anomaly.

Circles mark individual fragments of debris, in a fixed image taken on March 27.

Rocket Stage Launched 10 Years Ago Disintegrates into Trail of Space Junk (Video)

By Mindy Weisberger

The breakup created a cloud of space debris.

Lots of space debris is orbiting Earth, including non-functional satellites.

This 'Empty Trash Bag' Is Orbiting Earth in a Very Strange Way

By Stephanie Pappas

A lightweight object resembling an empty trash bag is winging around Earth in a truly bizarre orbit.

e.Deorbit mission test

European Space Junk Cleanup Concept Gets New Mission: Refuel and Repair

By Tereza Pultarova

ESA's Columbus module

Europe's Space Station Module Has Hundreds of Tiny Dents from 'Marauding' Debris

By Elizabeth Howell

Meteor Trail Over Lake Tahoe 4

A Dazzling Fireball Over California Thrilled Skywatchers This Week! See the Photos.

By Mike Wall

Lots of people got to admire, and puzzle over, the fireball that blazed up off the coast of Northern California just after sunset on Wednesday (Dec. 19).

Meteor Over San Francisco

Brilliant Fireball in California Leaves Twisted Trail Over San Francisco (Photos)

By Mike Wall

A fireball lit up the sky over the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after sunset Wednesday (Dec. 19), leaving an odd, wind-twisted trail in its violent wake.

cubesats

Tiny Satellites Pose a Swarm of Opportunities — And Threats

By Meghan Bartels

Spaceflight favors big rockets and small technology — but when that technology gets small enough, it may act very differently from traditional satellites and spacecraft.

sso-a mission art

Cluttering the Space Commons? Upcoming SpaceX Launch Irks Orbital Debris Experts

By Leonard David

Space-junk experts are raising a red flag about the upcoming launch of more than 60 small satellites atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.