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

Artist's illustration of space junk orbiting Earth.

FAA proposes rule to reduce space junk in Earth orbit

By Mike Wall published

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a rule that would limit the amount of time that rockets' upper stages stay in orbit.

illustration of debris in orbit around Earth

Close call! 2 huge pieces of space debris had a near-miss in Earth orbit

By Andrew Jones published

Two big pieces of space junk almost slammed into each other in low Earth orbit, highlighting the need to clear up space close to home.

a white and black rocket launches at night.

New record! Firefly Aerospace launches Space Force mission 27 hours after receiving order

By Mike Wall published

Firefly Aerospace launched the Victus Nox mission for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday night (Sept. 14), just 27 hours after receiving the liftoff order.

clusters of metal appear around a bright explosion of fire in orbit around earth.

Humanity's current space behavior 'unsustainable,' European Space Agency report warns

By Andrew Jones published

Greater efforts are needed to make valuable orbits sustainable, according to a new report from the European Space Agency.

pieces of space junk of all shapes and sizes orbit the Earth

Orbiting debris trackers could be a game changer in space junk monitoring

By Tereza Pultarova published

Tiny devices on satellites could soon track small pieces of space debris that are invisible to existing space junk monitoring systems but capable of destroying spacecraft if they collide with it.

An illustration of Earth orbit overcrowded with space junk and orbital debris.

Space junk in Earth orbit and on the moon will increase with future missions − but nobody's in charge of cleaning it up

By Chris Impey published

There's a lot of trash on the moon right now – including nearly 100 bags of human waste. But whose responsibility is it to clean it up?

pieces of space junk of all shapes and sizes orbit the Earth

Taking out the trash: Here's how private companies could be vital for space debris removal

By Leonard David published

Space debris is becoming a major issue for both private companies and space agencies. But estimates of how much troublesome litter is actually in orbit are daunting and tricky to make.

An illustration of Earth orbit overcrowded with space junk and orbital debris.

Old Soviet satellite breaks apart in orbit after space debris collision

By Tereza Pultarova published

A three-decades old Soviet satellite has disintegrated in orbit some 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) above Earth, likely following a space debris strike.

An illustration of Earth orbit overcrowded with space junk and orbital debris.

Private company wants to clean up space junk with 'capture bags' in Earth orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

Space junk could one day be snatched in orbit with a strong bag, if a new contract to test the technology ends up flying in space.

a large space station in the shape of an H floats in front of a blue and white planet

ISS fires thrusters to avoid oncoming space junk

By Elizabeth Howell published

The International Space Station fired its engines for 21 seconds to move out of the way of space debris on Aug. 24, NASA officials said.

a streaking yellow-orange fireball against the black sky

Russian rocket debris falls from space in spectacular fireball over southern Australia (video)

By Mike Wall published

A Russian rocket body fell back to Earth near southern Australia on Monday night (Aug. 7), putting on quite a show for observers in the region.

An illustration depicting the Aeolus spacecraft making a fiery reentry over the Antartica

Scientists reconstruct Aeolus satellite's fiery fall to Earth from space

By Robert Lea published

Scientists have mapped the fiery descent of the Aeolus spacecraft back to Earth from its reentry over Antarctica to its wrekage strewn path over the Atlantic.

An illustrated spacecraft breaks apart in a fiery re-entry through Earth's atmosphere.

How European satellite's landmark demise can aid the fight against space junk

By Leonard David published

Mission scientists and engineers took on the tricky task of targeting a remote stretch of the Atlantic Ocean for the reentry of Europe's Aeolus satellite.

(Main) a piece of space junk that washed up on an Austrailian beach (inset) a PSLV rocket the current suspect for this space debris

Mystery of space debris found on Australian beach may be solved

By Robert Lea published

The mystery of a huge piece of space debris that washed up on a beach in Western Australia may have been solved by the Australian Space Agency.

An illustration shows the Aeolus wind satellite over Earth.

European satellite falls to Earth in landmark 'assisted reentry'

By Mike Wall published

Europe's Aeolus satellite crashed back to Earth Friday (July 28) in an unprecedented 'assisted reentry' that could provide a template for other missions.

An illustration shows the Aeolus wind satellite over Earth.

When and where will Europe's Aeolus wind satellite fall to Earth this week?

By Mike Wall published

The European Space Agency is guiding its Aeolus wind-studying satellite to a destructive atmospheric reentry this week. Here's when and where it's expected to happen.

An illustration shows the Aeolus wind satellite over Earth.

A satellite will fall to Earth this week in a 1st-of-its-kind reentry. Here's what you need to know

By Robert Lea published

This week, the European Space Agency will guide its dead Aeolus wind satellite back to Earth — but not in one piece.

An illustration of the Aeolus satellite as it approaches Earth with gathering speed

Satellite will die by fire as 1st-of-its-kind operation sends it plummeting down to Earth

By Robert Lea published

Scientists will attempt a first-of-its-kind guided safe reentry to Earth's atmosphere with the European Space Agency wind satellite Aeolus as it heads home at increasing speed.

astronaut in front of a window facing earth. the astronaut is floating out the window at a barely visible piece of cylindrical equipment visible against the clouds

Here's how ISS astronauts jettison old space station hardware (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

With a thumbs-up, NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg showed how space station astronauts use a Canadian robotic arm to safely throw away old space station equipment.

a cylindrical-shaped piece of debris covered in mud and barnacles on a beach. the ocean is visible in behind

Australian Space Agency investigating possible rocket debris found on beach

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Australian Space Agency found a piece of debris that may be part of a 'foreign space launch vehicle,' but it's unclear which one it could be.