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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A Long March 6A rocket on the pad at Taiyuan spaceport in November 2022, ahead of launch of the Yunhai 3 satellite.

Chinese rocket body breaks up in orbit after successful satellite launch

By Andrew Jones published

A Chinese rocket body broke up in orbit after launching on Friday (Nov. 11) and is now in more than 50 pieces, adding to the threat of space debris in Earth orbit.

A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.

Should we really be worried about China's uncontrolled rocket booster reentries?

By Ben Turner published

The rocket had been circling the Earth since Halloween

Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, speaks during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on April 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.

China's latest giant rocket debris crash blasted by US and European space chiefs

By Brett Tingley published

The heads of NASA and the European Space Agency have issued statements condemning the latest example of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket booster falling to Earth in an uncontrolled reentry.

Map of possible trajectories for falling Chinese space junk showing a South Pacific impact

Whew! 23-ton Chinese rocket debris falls to Earth over Pacific Ocean

By Brett Tingley last updated

A 23-ton rocket body from China's launch of a Long March 5B rocket has fallen safely into the south-central Pacific Ocean after creating questions over where it will come down once again.

A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket and the Mengtian space lab at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on October 25, 2022 in Wenchang, Hainan Province of China.

A 23-ton Chinese rocket will fall to Earth Friday. But when and where will it land?

By Mike Wall last updated

A huge hunk of Chinese space junk is expected to crash back to Earth on Friday (Nov. 4), but nobody knows exactly where or when it will come down.

A Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian module for China's Tiangong space station launches on Oct. 31, 2022.

China's falling Long March 5B rocket stage spotted from space (photos)

By Andrew Jones published

A large Chinese rocket stage predicted to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere on Friday (Nov. 4) has been imaged by an orbiting satellite.

This NASA graphic depicts the amount of space junk orbiting Earth. The debris field is based on data from NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office. Image released on May 1, 2013.

Getting space junk under control may require an attitude shift

By Leonard David last updated

It's important to start taking action against space junk now, experts say, because Earth orbit is only going to get more congested.

A Chinese Long March 5B rocket carrying the Mengtian space station module rolls out to the launch pad on Oct. 25, 2022.

Chinese launch next week will set stage for another big space-junk crash

By Leonard David published

The Long March 5B rocket expected to launch China's Mengtian module on Oct. 31 will likely fall back to Earth uncontrolled a week or so later.

The International Space Station took evasive action to avoid a piece of space junk on Oct. 24, 2022.

International Space Station dodges space debris from Russian anti-satellite test

By Brett Tingley published

A cargo ship attached to the International Space Station fired its thrusters for five minutes Monday night (Oct. 24) to dodge a fragment of the destroyed Russian satellite Cosmos 1408.

An illustration of satellites and debris orbiting Earth.

Climate change keeps space debris afloat longer

By Tereza Pultarova published

Changes in Earth's atmosphere resulting from climate change are working against efforts to clean dangerous debris out of orbit around Earth.

the triangle-shaped u.s. space force logo

US Space Force awards 'rapid launch' contracts to Firefly, Millennium Space Systems

By Elizabeth Howell published

The U.S. Space Force seeks to ramp up its 'rapid launch' capabilities with a pair of task orders supporting a 2023 mission devoted to assessing orbital threats.

The Mars Sample Return Orbiter will have to protect precious Mars rocks from the harsh environment of space.

NASA fires micro-bullets at Mars sample-return orbiter's meteoroid shield

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA engineers are firing micro-bullets at squares of anti-meteoroid shield material that will protect a Mars sample return orbiter during its journey back to Earth.

Space debris generated by the Russian anti-satellite missile test in November 2021.

New space arms race could hinder exploration efforts

By Rahul Rao published

The growing weaponization of space poses a threat to human spaceflight in multiple ways, experts warn.

cylinder shaped space station in deep space with earth in the far distance

Nanoracks tests tech to slice up space junk in orbit for 1st time

By Elizabeth Howell published

A robotic arm softened up metal in space in an aim to address the growing space debris problem.

Artist's illustration of space junk orbiting Earth.

Space junk worries prompt new action by NASA, Congress

By Elizabeth Howell published

Recent work by NASA and Congress seeks new solutions for space debris, which has been a U.S. government priority amid anti-satellite testing and the rise of satellite megaconstellations.

close up of rocket launching surrounded by steam. a dashboard with launch statistics is overlaid

US satellites in low Earth orbit to be deorbited in 5 years: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

The FCC has a new rule pending in its ongoing fight against space debris.

This NASA graphic depicts the amount of space junk orbiting Earth. The debris field is based on data from NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office. Image released on May 1, 2013.

Space junk threat: Researchers working to reduce impact of falling debris

By Leonard David published

Researchers are working to come up with ways to mitigate the space junk problem, one of which would use fabrication concepts to reduce the size of debris pieces that make it to Earth.

rocket launching into the sky with the sun shining nearby

New rules needed to fix growing space debris problem, FCC says

By Elizabeth Howell published

The FCC opened a new inquiry Aug. 5 focusing on how space manufacturing may help the fight against space debris — or hinder it.

A possible piece of SpaceX Crew-1 debris was announced in Australian media July 29, 2022.

SpaceX team headed to Australia to investigate Dragon space junk crash

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Officials with SpaceX are going to Australia to examine a crash site possibly associated with space debris generated from the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft.

China's Long March 5B rocket launches the Wentian module of China's space station on Sunday, July 24.

Debris from Chinese rocket crash found in Indonesia and Malaysia

By Mike Wall published

Some pieces of the big Chinese rocket that fell to Earth over the weekend have been found on the ground in Southeast Asia.