space junk
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…
This is an Actual Picture of Space Debris
Space debris is a growing problem, so companies are working on ways to mitigate it. A new satellite called ADRAS-J…
Watch a Real-Time Map of Starlinks Orbiting Earth
In an effort to enhance the educational outreach of their Starlink constellation, there is an interactive global map of their…
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…
European Satellite ERS-2 to Reenter Earth’s Atmosphere This Week
One of the largest reentries in recent years, ESA’s ERS-2 satellite is coming down this week.
Space Junk is Going to be a Problem for Vera Rubin
The Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) is different than other large telescopes, and that difference makes it more vulnerable to space…
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…
Spaceflight is Polluting the Atmosphere with Metal
Humans can't seem to interact with the environment at all without fouling it in some way. From plastic bags in…
A Russian Satellite Has Broken Into Pieces, Littering Debris in Space
A Russian KOSMOS 2499 satellite broke up last month -- for a second time -- according to the Space Force's…
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…