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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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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.

Artist's illustration of the long-dead Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).

No satellite crash: 2 pieces of space junk whiz safely by each other over Pittsburgh

By Mike Wall

Satellite operators, and everyone else who wants a safe and sustainable space environment, dodged a bullet Wednesday evening (Jan. 29).

This graphic shows the close encounter between two pieces of space junk, the dead satellites IRAS and GGSE-4, over Pittsburgh on the evening of Jan. 29, 2020.

2 old satellites will buzz each other over Pittsburgh tonight. Here's how to see the space junk.

By Joe Rao

The potential (but unlikely) collision of two old satellites will be visible in the eastern U.S. today (Jan. 29) at at 6:39 p.m. EST. Here's how to see it.

This graphic shows the close encounter between two pieces of space junk, the dead satellites IRAS and GGSE-4, over Pittsburgh on the evening of Jan. 29, 2020.

The odds of a NASA, US military satellite crash above Pittsburgh have gone up. (They're still low.)

By Mike Wall

The odds of a space-junk crash Wednesday evening (Jan.29) aren't as slim as we had thought, it turns out.

The defunct Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) orbits the Earth in this illustration.

Potential collision of old NASA space telescope and a defunct US satellite would spawn new debris swarm

By Mike Wall

Let's hope that today's space-junk encounter is just a near miss as predicted, because a smashup would be pretty messy.

The The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) orbits the Earth in this illustration.

2 satellites will narrowly avoid colliding at 32,800 mph over Pittsburgh on Wednesday

By Rafi Letzter

A collision would create a debris belt that would endanger spacecraft worldwide.

Artist's illustration of Tethers Unlimited's "Terminator Tape" de-orbit module, which interacts with the space environment to rapidly drag a satellite out of orbit.

'Terminator Tape' did its job in space-junk test — and it will be back

By Mike Wall

One technique that could help alleviate the space-junk scourge just passed a key off-Earth test.

An artist's rendering shows the ClearSpace-1 satellite using its robotic arms to capture the conical piece of space debris called Vespa.

Europe Is Launching a Suicide Robot to 'Hug' Space Trash Out of Orbit

By Brandon Specktor

The ESA has announced a mission to launch a four-armed robot to grab a single piece of space junk and drag it into the atmosphere.

"Dr Space Junk vs the Universe" by Alice Gorman.

Where Do Satellites Go to Die? Dr Space Junk Explains It All in New Book

By Meghan Bartels

One person's space trash is another's space treasure — and that's definitely true for Alice Gorman, an archaeologist specializing in the detritus of spaceflight.

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.