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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ClearSpace-1 will use an experimental, four-armed

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

By Samantha Mathewson published

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 published

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 published

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.

This reentry prediction plot by the Aerospace Corporation shows the estimated splashdown point of China's 21 metric ton Long March 5B rocket booster on Saturday, May 8, 2021. As of Saturday afternoon, it was estimated to fall in the northern Atlantic Ocean west of Europe give or take 4 hours.

A huge Chinese rocket will fall to Earth this weekend. Here's how to track it online.

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Several websites give regular updates on the Chinese Long March 5B rocket core that's uncontrollably falling to Earth, with an expected reentry late Saturday night (May 8).

Even tiny pieces of space debris can have catastrophic effects. This image shows the result of a lab-test impact between a block of aluminum and a small aluminum sphere traveling at nearly 7 kilometers per second.

Space junk removal is not going smoothly

By Leonard David published

Despite promising technology demonstrations, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the growing problem of taking out the orbital trash

A Long March-5B Y2 rocket carrying the core module of China's space station, Tianhe, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on April 29, 2021 (April 28 EDT) in Wenchang, Hainan Province of China.

A huge Chinese rocket booster is falling from space, but don't worry. It likely won't hit you.

By Elizabeth Howell published

China's Long March 5B rocket core stage plummets to Earth this weekend. You have almost nothing to worry about.

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

US Space Command is tracking China's falling rocket booster, but won't shoot it down

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

U.S. Space Command is closely tracking a large Chinese rocket body falling uncontrollably back to Earth that is predicted to hit the atmosphere sometime on Saturday (May 8).

The core stage of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket, as photographed on the night of May 5, 2021, by Gianluca Masi's Virtual Telescope Project.

Falling Chinese rocket debris spotted in space as White House weighs in (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

An astronomer spotted a huge Chinese rocket core falling uncontrolled from orbit, as the White House weighed in on the tricky international situation.

A Long March 5B rocket launches Tianhe, the core module of China's new space station, on April 28, 2021.

China's huge rocket booster falling from space highlights orbital debris problem

By Leonard David published

The upcoming atmospheric re-entry of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket body is a reminder of a much larger problem, experts say.

The Long March 5B rocket carrying the core module of China's space station, Tianhe, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on April 29, 2021.

Rocket debris from China's space station launch is falling back to Earth — but where?

By Elizabeth Howell published

A large Chinese rocket is set to make an uncontrolled reentry back into Earth's atmosphere, but it is not yet clear exactly where or when the debris will hit our planet.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience is lifted onto its recovery ship in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Panama City, Florida on Sunday, May 2, 2021. The panels covering the capsule's parachutes were ejected in flight and splashed down separately.

Florida lawmakers protect spacecraft parts from finders, keepers

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

On its way to a splashdown with four astronauts, SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Resilience" shed some of its parts. If you find them, you can't keep them.

Long exposure star trail image taken at Hehuan Mountain, Taiwan.

Space junk is blocking our view of the stars, scientists say

By Ben Turner published

The increasing number of satellites and space debris orbiting Earth could prevent astronomers from making crucial discoveries.

Space debris around the Earth

Europe plans to launch space telescope to monitor orbital debris

By Tereza Pultarova published

The European Space Agency wants to launch an orbiting telescope to monitor small pieces of space debris only a few millimeters in size to reduce risk of damaging collisions.

In September 2019, ESA's wind-monitoring satellite Aeolus came dangerously close to one of SpaceX's Starlink spacecraft. The space agency had to conduct an avoidance manoeuvre to prevent the collision.

Artificial intelligence is learning how to dodge space junk in orbit

By Tereza Pultarova published

An AI-driven space debris-dodging system could soon replace expert teams dealing with growing numbers of orbital collision threats in the increasingly cluttered near-Earth environment.

A view of SpaceX's first 60 Starlink satellites in orbit, still in stacked configuration, with the Earth as a brilliant blue backdrop on May 23, 2019.

SpaceX and OneWeb satellites didn't have a close call in space after all: report

By Chelsea Gohd published

space junk

It's not how big your laser is, it's how you use it. Space law is an important part of the fight against space debris.

By Steven Freeland, Annie Handmer published

Space is getting crowded.

SpaceX's Crew-2 Crew Dragon Endeavour arrives at the International Space Station with four astronauts aboard in a smooth docking on April 24, 2021 one day after launching into orbit.

A piece of space junk zipped by SpaceX's Dragon capsule on its way to the space station

By Tariq Malik last updated

A piece of space debris passed unexpectedly close by SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule as it ferried four Crew-2 astronauts to the International Space Station.

An illustration of space junk

Telescope lasers could give humanity an edge in war against space junk

By Rafi Letzter published

Space junk is a growing problem. Better fight it with lasers.

Sixty just-launched SpaceX Starlink satellites circle Earth prior to being deployed.

SpaceX agrees to steer Starlink internet satellites clear of space station, NASA spacecraft

By Amy Thompson published

SpaceX recently inked a deal with NASA to move any of the company's Starlink internet satellites out of the way if they stray too close to the International Space Station or other agency spacecraft.

Space Situational Awareness program

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

By Andrew May, How It Works magazine last updated

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