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 about space junk
Chinese astronauts inspect damaged Shenzhou 20 spacecraft during 8-hour spacewalk (video)
Two Chinese astronauts installed more debris shielding on the Tiangong space station and assessed the damage to the attached Shenzhou 20 spacecraft during a spacewalk on Tuesday (Dec. 9).
China's Shenzhou 21 astronauts are stranded aboard the Tiangong space station — for now
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 21 mission currently have no safe way to get home from the Tiangong space station in the event of an emergency. But that situation is likely to change soon.
China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts return to Earth on different spacecraft after finding window cracks in their own (video)
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou 20 mission headed back to Earth today (Nov. 13) after a week-long delay caused by a debris strike on their spacecraft.
China reached out to NASA to avoid a potential satellite collision in 1st-of-its-kind space cooperation
A NASA official said that China contacted the U.S. space agency recently to coordinate a satellite maneuver, marking the first time the Chinese side had reached out to its American counterpart.
Could we blast space debris out of harm's way with ion beams?
A new space debris removal project, ALBATOR, plans to tackle the growing debris problem in orbit.
This company's plan to launch 4,000 massive space mirrors has scientists alarmed: 'From an astronomical perspective, that's pretty catastrophic'
Reflect Orbital has applied for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to launch a giant mirror to space next year.
Mysterious smoldering wreckage in Australian Outback is likely part of a Chinese rocket
A piece of smoldering wreckage found in Western Australia is likely part of a Chinese rocket that crashed to Earth on Saturday (Oct. 18), experts say.
New space debris shield? Satellites and astronauts could suit up in novel 'Space Armor'
Humanity has a new tool in the fight against space junk — "Space Armor," a multi-functional composite that could protect both spacecraft and astronauts.
