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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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The galaxy GN-z11, which scientists think could be the farthest and oldest galaxy every observed, superimposed on an image from the COODS-North survey.

The oldest gamma-ray burst ever discovered was just a piece of space junk

By Tereza Pultarova

A presumed discovery of a gamma-ray burst from the oldest known galaxy in the universe was in fact a reflection of sunlight from a spent rocket stage in Earth's orbit, a new paper found.

Apple computer company founder Steve Wozniak speaks at the Congress Meet the Future, Science & Technology Summit 2010 at the World Forum in The Hague on November 18, 2010.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak wants to clean up space junk with new company

By Elizabeth Howell

Steve Wozniak hopes to address the growing space junk problem in orbit.

ELSA-d released and successfully captured its experimental piece of space junk for the first time.

Astroscale's space junk removal satellite aces 1st orbital test

By Tereza Pultarova

Astroscale's ELSA-d spacecraft has successfully captured a simulated piece of space junk in orbit.

An artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites in orbit.

SpaceX Starlink satellites responsible for over half of close encounters in orbit, scientist says

By Tereza Pultarova

SpaceX's Starlink satellites are involved in about 1,600 close encounters between two spacecraft in low Earth orbit every week, according to available data. That’s about 50% of all such incidents.

An artist's illustration of Aurora Propulsion Technologies' AuroraSat-1, a cubesat designed to demonstrate several space junk cleanup technologies. AuroraSat-1 is scheduled to launch atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster in late 2021.

Rocket Lab will launch a Finnish cubesat this year to test space junk cleanup tech

By Mike Wall

A tiny cubesat called AuroraSat-1 will launch atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster in the fourth quarter of this year to demonstrate de-orbiting tech for small spacecraft.

An artist's concept depicting the near-Earth orbital debris field, based on real data from the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office.

Space collision: Chinese satellite got whacked by hunk of Russian rocket in March

By Mike Wall

The partial breakup of China's Yunhai 1-02 military satellite on March 18 is no longer mysterious.

An artist's illustration of a Measat-3 communications satellite in orbit.

A Malaysian satellite has died in space and will meet a cold grave

By Elizabeth Howell

A Malaysian satellite will settle into a graveyard orbit following a mysterious "anomaly" that struck it down in orbit.

The problem of "space junk" continues to grow.

Who's going to fix the space junk problem?

By Paul Sutter

The growing problem of space junk poses a risk to future space missions, but the solution isn't going to be easy.

The image shows diagonal lines caused by the light reflected by a group of 25 Starlink satellites passing through the field of view of a telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona during observations of the NGC 5353/4 galaxy group on May 25, 2019.

Astronomers propose 'SatHub' to address growing threat of satellite megaconstellations

By Elizabeth Howell

Some astronomers suggest setting up a "SatHub" to address the growing threat that satellite megaconstellations pose to the night sky — but funding and support are necessary to make it happen.

The research satellite Prospero is the only British spacecraft to launch on the British-built Black Arrow rocket.

Rocket start-up Skyrora wants to salvage an iconic UK satellite in space for museum display

By Tereza Pultarova

U.K. rocket start-up Skyrora wants to collect the remains of the iconic British satellite Prospero from low Earth orbit and bring it to Earth to be displayed in a museum.

Russia's Progress 76 cargo resupply ship is pictured shortly after it departed the International Space Station on Feb. 9, 2021.

Russia says SpaceX Starlink satellite and space junk may narrowly miss Progress cargo ship in orbit

By Tereza Pultarova

The Russian Progress MS-17 cargo ship, which launched toward the International Space Station on Tuesday (June 29), will come dangerously close to a Starlink satellite and a Falcon 9 rocket fragment.

ESA scientists simulated the burn-up during the atmospheric reentry of one of the bulkiest items aboard a typical satellite.

Plasma wind tunnel annihilates satellite model in atmospheric reentry test

By Mindy Weisberger

Satellite parts that melt away during reentry reduce the risk of space debris impacts on Earth, a new video demonstrates.

A conceptual image illustrating space debris orbiting Earth.

New spacecraft sustainability rating targets space junk

By Tereza Pultarova

New spacecraft sustainability rating will evaluate satellite missions based on responsible design with respect to protecting the orbital environment from the proliferation of space debris.

An illustration depicting the cluttered space debris around the Earth.

The world needs space junk standards, G7 nations agree

By Tereza Pultarova

The western world's most advanced economies have agreed to take action against space debris at the G-7 Leaders' Summit in Cornwall, U.K.

These images from NASA and the Canadian Space Agency show the location of a space debris strike on the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robot arm spotted on May 12, 2021 and released on May 28.

Space station robotic arm hit by orbital debris in 'lucky strike' (video)

By Elizabeth Howell

A piece of space junk smacked into the robotic arm on the International Space Station, but near-term operations should not be affected.

Astroscale cooperates with megaconstellation operator OneWeb on the development of commercial space debris removal technology.

Commercial space clean-up service could be ready in 2024

By Tereza Pultarova

Space junk removal company Astroscale hopes to start commercially removing dead satellites from orbit in the next three years.

An artist's concept depicting the near-Earth orbital debris field, based on real data from the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office.

Making space sustainable will advance Biden's agenda (op-ed)

By Charity Weeden

Recent events serve as a timely reminder for the Biden Administration that securing the safety of space infrastructure is critical to their broader economic and national security goals.

ClearSpace-1 will use an experimental, four-armed

ESA partners with startup to launch first debris removal mission in 2025

By Samantha Mathewson

The European Space Agency announced plans to launch a space debris removal mission in 2025 with the help of a Swiss start-up called ClearSpace.

An image of the falling Chinese rocket body published by the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, on May 7, 2021.

China's huge rocket that fell from space highlights debris risk of uncontrolled reentries

By Elizabeth Howell

After a huge Chinese rocket plummeted apparently into the ocean, NASA's new administrator condemned the country's use of launch technology that makes uncontrolled reentries from orbit.

A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.The rocket's massive core stage fell back to Earth uncontrolled somewhere over the Arabian Peninsula on May 8, 2021.

Huge Chinese rocket booster falls to Earth over Arabian Peninsula

By Mike Wall

The 23-ton core stage of a Chinese Long March 5B booster crashed back to Earth Saturday night (May 8), ending 10 controversial days aloft that captured the attention of the world.