Orbital Debris
Orbital Debris is Getting Out of Control
In 1978, NASA scientists Donald J. Kessler and Burton G. Cour-Palais proposed a scenario where the density of objects in…
See the Dramatic Final Moments of the Doomed ERS-2 Satellite
When a satellite reaches the end of its life, it has only two destinations. It can either be maneuvered into…
99% of Space Junk is Undetectable. That Could Change Soon
Private and military organizations are tracking some of the 170 million pieces of space junk orbiting the planet, but they're…
Drag Sail Success! This Satellite Won't Turn Into Space Junk
The European Space Agency successfully tested a solar-sail-type device to speed up the deorbit time for a used cubesat carrier…
About 3% of Starlinks Have Failed So Far
A new analysis indicates that 3% of Starlink satellites have failed since they were launched to orbit, which could mean…
A Television Satellite Might be About to Explode
A DirecTV satellite suffered a battery failure and now has to be de-orbited. Otherwise, it could cause a collision and…
Now that Many Countries Have the Ability to Destroy Satellites, the US is Figuring Out Ways to Make Them More Armored
With all the advances made in anti-satellite technology, Sandia National Laboratories is seeking partnerships to develop satellites that can defend…
Can We Use Special Sails To Bring Old Satellites Back Down To Earth?
The growing problem of space debris in LEO (Low-Earth Orbit) is garnering more and more attention. With thousands of satellites…
Did You Know That a Satellite Crashes Back to Earth About Once a Week, on Average?
According to the ESA's Space Debris Office, about 100 tonnes of space debris enters our atmosphere every year on average.
China Has a Plan to Clean Up Space Junk with Lasers
A new study by a team of Chinese researchers considers whether a space-based laser station would be a good way…