Greta Jimenez
Space debris, or space junk, is any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space. Since the dawn of the space age in 1957, thousands of rockets and satellites have been launched into space, many of which are still orbiting Earth. These include inactive satellites, rocket fragments, paint flakes, solidified droplets of antifreeze, and even tools dropped by astronauts during space walks. The harsh space environment can cause satellites to break down, and explosions from leftover fuel in old rocket bodies can create thousands of new pieces of dangerous debris. This debris moves at incredible speeds, posing a significant risk to active satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts. With the increasing number of space missions, the issue of space pollution is becoming more urgent, and governing bodies are seeking sustainable solutions to prevent further debris accumulation and ensure the safe exploration of space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Space debris, or space junk, is any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space. |
| History | The first piece of space junk was the Sputnik satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. |
| Number of objects | There are around 900,000 objects measuring between 1 and 10 cm in orbit, around 34,000 larger than 10 cm, and about 100 million pieces of debris larger than 1 mm. |
| Speed | Objects in orbit travel at more than 28,000 kilometres per hour (15,000 mph or 24,140 kph). |
| Risk | Even tiny particles can be extremely dangerous at orbital speeds. The risk to an individual from falling debris is very small, but the danger to satellites and spacecraft is significant. |
| Sources | Sources of space debris include inactive satellites, rocket bodies and upper stages, collisions or anti-satellite tests, explosions from residual fuel, and paint flakes or other small fragments. |
| Prevention and removal | The United Nations asks companies to remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years of the end of their mission. However, there is a lack of governance and regulation around space debris, and no clear fix to the problem. |
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What You'll Learn
Inactive satellites
Since the dawn of the space age in 1957, thousands of rockets and satellites have been launched into space. Many of these satellites are now inactive, drifting about in space with no use. Inactive satellites are a major source of space pollution, with thousands of them orbiting the Earth alongside tens of thousands of fragments of space debris.
Satellites have a limited useful life, and when their batteries are spent or they break down, they are often left abandoned in space. While it was initially assumed that these objects would eventually fall to Earth and burn up on re-entry, this is not always the case, especially in higher orbits. As a result, there are now thousands of dead satellites orbiting our planet, posing an ever-increasing risk of collision as more satellites are launched.
The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that there are around 900,000 objects larger than one centimetre in size that are orbiting the Earth with no useful purpose. This includes both inactive satellites and fragments from rocket launches and collisions. These objects can reach speeds of over 28,000 kilometres per hour, turning them into dangerous projectiles. The United Nations has requested that companies remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years of the end of their mission, but this is challenging to enforce as satellites often fail prematurely.
Several solutions have been proposed to address the issue of inactive satellites, including using harpoons, nets, magnets, or lasers to capture or destroy them and bring them back into the Earth's atmosphere where they will burn up. Removing these satellites from orbit is a matter of urgency to prevent further endangering ongoing missions and terrestrial telecommunications.
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Rocket debris
Since the beginning of the space age in 1957, thousands of rockets have been launched into space. Many of these rockets are still orbiting the Earth, alongside tens of thousands of fragments of space debris.
Rockets can release a lot of small debris, such as paint flecks, when they reach space. These tiny pieces of debris can be incredibly dangerous. Even a piece of space debris the size of a blueberry can create the impact of a falling anvil. Tiny pieces of space debris are not typically tracked, but they travel at more than 28,000 kilometres per hour, giving them more kinetic energy than bullets.
Larger pieces of space debris, such as rocket stages, can be tracked and catalogued. However, they, too, pose a significant danger. For example, in 2008, astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper dropped a box of tools during a space walk. The box disintegrated when it entered the Earth's atmosphere almost a year later, but not before it had orbited the Earth more than 4,000 times.
Some nations have implemented policies to mitigate the creation of space debris. For example, the United States released the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) in 2001. Additionally, the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has published international guidelines for reducing space debris. However, there is no comprehensive legal regime in place to address the issue, and no easy or cheap solution exists.
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Astronauts dropping tools
Space debris, or space junk, is a growing problem that poses a risk to spacecraft and ongoing missions. It is caused by human activity in space, including the launch of thousands of rockets and satellites since the 1950s. Many of these objects, such as dead satellites, have been left in orbit, creating an ever-increasing risk of collision.
One contributing factor to the issue of space debris is astronauts dropping tools during space walks. This has occurred on several occasions, with objects such as a spatula, a wrench, a camera, a pair of pliers, and a tool bag being lost in space. In one notable incident in 2008, astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper lost a backpack-sized tool kit while cleaning up a mess from a leaking grease gun. The tool bag circled the planet for months before disintegrating upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere. More recently, in November 2023, a tool bag was lost during a spacewalk at the International Space Station by NASA astronauts Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli.
While these lost tools may seem insignificant, they can pose a danger due to the high speeds at which they travel—over 28,000 kilometres per hour. This turns even small objects into projectiles that can cause damage to active satellites or other spacecraft. Additionally, larger pieces of space debris that do not burn up completely upon re-entry can reach the Earth's surface, causing potential property damage or environmental contamination.
The issue of space debris is not just limited to tools dropped by astronauts. There are also hundreds of inactive satellites and thousands of rocket fragments in orbit, along with smaller debris such as paint flakes and solidified droplets of antifreeze. The accumulation of space debris has led to an increased need for collision avoidance manoeuvres by satellites and the International Space Station.
Addressing the problem of space debris requires a range of solutions, including removing dead satellites from orbit and improving the tracking and mitigation of space objects. While some space debris burns up in the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution, larger objects can reach the ground intact. As human activity in space continues to increase, it is crucial to find effective solutions to minimise the impact of space debris on ongoing and future missions.
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Space collisions
When two satellites collide, they can break apart into thousands of new pieces, creating a vast amount of new debris. This type of collision is rare, with only one major satellite collision occurring in 2009 between Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251. However, several countries, including the USA, China, and India, have conducted anti-satellite tests, blowing up their own satellites and creating thousands of new pieces of dangerous debris. These tests, such as the 2007 Chinese ASAT test, have significantly contributed to the space debris problem.
The proliferation of space debris poses a significant threat to active satellites, space missions, and the International Space Station (ISS). Satellites must frequently perform collision avoidance maneuvers to prevent damage or destruction. The ISS, for example, regularly carries out such maneuvers to protect the astronauts living onboard. The risk of collisions and the need for avoidance maneuvers will only increase with the planned launch of mega-constellations of satellites by companies like SpaceX and Amazon.
The accumulation of space debris has led to the concept of Kessler Syndrome, proposed by NASA scientists in 1978. Kessler Syndrome describes a situation where the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) becomes so high that collisions cascade, exponentially increasing space debris over time. This scenario could render certain orbital regions unusable and threaten the long-term viability of space activities. While there is no consensus on whether Kessler Syndrome has already begun, the scientific community agrees that effective space traffic management and collision avoidance strategies are crucial to ensure the sustainability of space exploration.
In conclusion, space collisions are a significant contributor to space pollution, creating vast amounts of new debris and increasing the risk of further collisions. The consequences of these collisions pose a danger to active satellites and space missions, underscoring the critical need for collision avoidance strategies and the responsible removal of decommissioned satellites from orbit.
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Lack of governance
The issue of space pollution, or space debris, has been a growing concern since the beginning of the space age in 1957. Since then, humans have launched thousands of rockets and sent an even greater number of satellites into orbit, many of which are still there, contributing to the ever-increasing congestion in Earth's orbit. This has led to concerns about the lack of governance regarding space debris.
The near-Earth environment is becoming increasingly crowded, with as many as 100 lunar missions planned over the next decade by governments and private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Near-Earth orbit is even more congested than the space between Earth and the Moon, with a distance of just a few hundred miles compared to 240,000 miles to the Moon. As of 2023, there are nearly 7,700 satellites within a few hundred miles of the Earth, and this number is expected to grow exponentially, potentially reaching several hundred thousand by 2027.
The lack of governance and regulation in space has led to concerns about the "tragedy of the commons," where unrestricted access to a common resource may lead to its depletion and eventual unusability. While the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967 states that no country can "own" the Moon or any celestial body, and that they should be used for peaceful purposes only, it does not address the activities of companies and individuals or provide guidelines for the use of space resources. Similarly, the United Nations Moon Agreement of 1979, which declared the Moon and its resources as the common heritage of humanity, was not signed by major powers like the United States, Russia, and China.
The absence of clear regulations has led to challenges in addressing the issue of space debris. While the United Nations recommends that companies remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years of their mission's end, enforcement is difficult due to satellite failures and technical limitations. Additionally, the responsibility for space debris often falls on the nations launching and operating the satellites, further complicating the governance and management of this issue.
To address the lack of governance, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has been working to promote sustainable development activities in space. While the UN can only regulate its member states, it aims to assist these countries in developing national-level policies that align with sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the US government has released the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) to provide guidance on mitigating and preventing the accumulation of space debris, with other countries adopting similar policies.
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Frequently asked questions
Space pollution, also known as space debris or space junk, is any human-made object in orbit that no longer serves a useful purpose. This includes space vehicles no longer in service, such as inactive satellites, and rocket fragments.
Sources of space pollution include rocket launches, satellite explosions or collisions, and anti-satellite tests. Since the beginning of the space age in 1957, thousands of rockets and satellites have been launched, many of which are still in orbit.
Space pollution poses several risks. The high speed of objects in orbit, often exceeding 28,000 kilometres per hour, turns them into dangerous projectiles. Even small fragments, such as paint flakes, can damage active satellites or puncture spacesuits. The accumulation of space debris also endangers future missions and terrestrial telecommunications.
Reducing space pollution involves removing inactive satellites and other debris from orbit. While some objects will eventually burn up during re-entry, this process can take many years. Proposed solutions include using harpoons, nets, magnets, or lasers to bring objects back into the atmosphere, where they will disintegrate.
