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

Space Situational Awareness program

How are asteroids, space weather and space debris detected before they hit Earth?

By Andrew May, How It Works magazine published

The European Space Agency’s Space Situational Awareness program is tackling the problem on three fronts.

The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission will test a magnetic docking technique to remove space debris from orbit. The "servicer" satellite will use GPS to locate space debris and then latch onto it using a magnetic docking plate to carry it down toward the Earth's atmosphere, where it will burn up.

Tiny Astroscale satellite will test space junk cleanup tech with magnets

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astroscale just launched the first commercial space junk cleanup mission designed to locate and retrieve used satellites and other debris orbiting Earth.

An artist's depiction of the NOAA-17 satellite in orbit.

Defunct US weather satellite breaks up in Earth orbit

By Meghan Bartels published

A U.S. weather satellite that retired eight years ago has fallen apart in orbit, breaking into at least 43 pieces, according to government representatives.

An illustration of space junk

How do tiny pieces of space junk cause incredible damage?

By Isobel Whitcomb published

Space junk moves at 10 times the speed of a bullet from an average gun.

The International Space Station jettisons a 2.9-ton pallet carrying used batteries on March 11, 2021. This photo was posted on Twitter by NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins.

Space station tosses 2.9-ton hunk of space junk overboard. It will stay in orbit for years.

By Mike Wall published

The International Space Station discarded a 2.9-ton pallet of used batteries on Thursday morning (March 11), the most massive object it has ever jettisoned.

The South Korean science fiction film "Space Sweepers" launches on Netflix Feb. 5, 2020.

Netflix reveals 1st teaser for 'Space Sweepers,' a South Korean sci-fi film about space junk salvage

By Elizabeth Howell published

"Space Sweepers," a South Korean science fiction film about space junk salvage crews, launches on Netflix on Feb. 5.

A diagram showing the path of 2020 SO, which is likely a Centaur upper stage from a lunar mission launched during the 1960s.

So 'asteroid' 2020 SO was actually 1960s space junk. It may be the first of many to come.

By Meghan Bartels published

Astroscale's ELSA-d mission will launch in March 2021 to test space junk-removal tech.

Astroscale to test space junk cleanup tech with 'ELSA-d' launch in 2021

By Mike Wall published

Technology that could help humanity get a handle on the growing space-junk problem will get an orbital test early next year.

Artist's depiction of the A-train constellation of Earth-observing satellites, with times the spacecraft are separated by when they fly.

Planned satellite constellation poses a collision threat, NASA says: reports

By Mike Wall published

AST & Science's planned SpaceMobile network could threaten the "A-Train" group of Earth-observing satellites, according to NASA.

Artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starship vehicle near the moon.

SpaceX's Starship may help clean up space junk

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's next-gen Starship system may help clean up Earth orbit when it's not taking people and payloads to the moon and Mars.

An artist's depiction of a near-Earth asteroid.

The strange story of 2020 SO: How an asteroid turned into rocket junk and the NASA scientist who figured it out

By Meghan Bartels published

As soon as he saw the data, Paul Chodas knew something was strange about the near-Earth object that had been designated 2020 SO.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, LeoLabs calculated. Thankfully, a smashup seems not to have occurred.

Phew! 2 big hunks of space junk zoom safely past each other in near-miss

By Mike Wall published

The chance of a collision was higher than 10%, according to LeoLabs.

Still from a LeoLabs animation modeling a close approach between two big pieces of space junk on Thursday night (Oct. 15). The chance of a collision is higher than 10%, LeoLabs has calculated.

2 big pieces of space junk could collide Thursday night

By Mike Wall published

Two big pieces of space junk are zooming toward a close approach that will occur Thursday (Oct. 15) at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT on Oct. 16), according to California-based tracking company LeoLabs.

The International Space Station, photographed by Expedition 56 crewmembers from a Soyuz spacecraft in October 2018. NASA astronauts Andrew Feustel and Ricky Arnold and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev executed a flyaround of the orbiting laboratory to take pictures of the station before returning home after spending 197 days in space. 

Astronauts take shelter as space station dodges orbital junk

By Mike Wall published

The International Space Station just dodged a fast-moving hunk of orbiting junk.

NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1, or OGO-1, is seen in orbit on Aug. 25, 2020. The satellite launched in September 1964 and falls to Earth on Aug. 29, 2020.

56-year-old NASA satellite expected to fall to Earth this weekend

By Mike Wall published

The OGO-1 geophysics satellite's long space odyssey is nearly at an end.

Space junk is making low Earth orbit crowded.

Three big threats to satellites — and what to do about them (op-ed)

By Herbert O. Funsten published

The more congested space is, the more contested it becomes, creating challenges for both national and global security.

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 published

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 published

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 published

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 published

Scientists aren't sure if space junk or a meteor caused a brilliant blue fireball seen across Western Australia.