Space debris
hideSpace debris or orbital debris, also called space junk and space waste, are the objects in orbit around Earth created by humans, and that no longer serve any useful purpose. They consist of everything from entire spent rocket stages and defunct satellites to explosion fragments, paint flakes, dust, and slag from solid rocket motors, coolant released by RORSAT nuclear powered satellites, deliberate insertion of small needles, and other small particles. Clouds of very small particles may cause erosive damage, like sandblasting. Space "junk" has become a growing concern in recent years, since collisions at orbital velocities can be highly damaging to functional satellites and can also produce even more space debris in the process. This is called the Kessler Syndrome. Some spacecraft, like the International Space Station, are now armored to mitigate damage from this hazard. Astronauts on space-walks are also vulnerable.
The first major space debris collision was on February 10, 2009 at 16:56 UTC. The deactivated Kosmos-2251 and an operational Iridium 33 collided 789 kilometres (490 mi) over northern Siberia. The relative speed of impact was about 11.7 kilometres per second (7.3 mi/s), or approximately 42,120 kilometres per hour (26,170 mph). Both satellites were destroyed. The collision scattered considerable debris, which poses an elevated risk to spacecraft.
For more information about Space debris, read the full article at
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News tagged with space debris
Station Prepares For New Spacecraft, Monitors Debris
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 06, 2009 |
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The station crew prepared Friday for the arrival of the Russian Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2) which is scheduled for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Nov. 10. The MRM2 will arrive at the ...
Space debris: Europe to set up monitor
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 02, 2009 |
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The European Space Agency (ESA) hopes to start monitoring orbital debris within the next few years, an official said Thursday at the close of the largest-ever conference on a worsening space peril.
Expert: Satellite collision shows need for more regulation of 'space debris'
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Feb 17, 2009 |
2.7 / 5 (3) |
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Last week's collision between U.S. and Russian space satellites has prompted questions over who is at fault while highlighting the need for stronger international regulation of space debris, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln ...
Swerve left to avoid that satellite
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Jul 09, 2008 |
4.3 / 5 (4) |
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Think you have trouble getting rid of the clutter in your living room? After more than 50 years of launching rockets and satellites into space, the human race now has to deal with the clutter left behind -- or is it "above"? ...
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Space Image: A Beehive of Satellites
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Feb 12, 2009 |
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2
The launch of the first artificial satellite by the then Soviet Union in 1957 marked the beginning of the utilization of space for science and commercial activity. During the Cold War, space was a prime area ...
China meeting on space waste delayed
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 20, 2007 |
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China, apparently fearing criticism of its recent satellite destruction, has put off hosting next week's global meeting on hazardous space waste.
Chinese space debris passes shuttle uneventfully: NASA
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
May 14, 2009 |
2.3 / 5 (3) |
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A small piece of debris from China's 2007 anti-satellite test passed by the space shuttle Atlantis, but not close enough to require an evasive maneuver, NASA said Wednesday.
Space shuttle dodges debris on way home to Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 10, 2009 |
4 / 5 (3) |
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(AP) -- NASA has moved the shuttle Discovery out of the way of a mystery piece of orbiting junk and is hoping for a scheduled landing on Earth.
In space, trash can't go to the curb
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2007 |
1 / 5 (1) |
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Taking out the trash is no simple chore on the International Space Station, where some junk is carefully hurled into the Earth's atmosphere to burn.
NASA eyes debris as Discovery nears space station
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2009 |
3.8 / 5 (4) |
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(AP) -- NASA kept close tabs on an old piece of space junk Monday that threatened to come too close to the international space station as the shuttle Discovery raced toward the orbiting outpost for a 220-mile-high ...
NASA says space station safe from debris
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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(AP) -- NASA gave the all-clear to the international space station Monday, telling its astronauts they would not need to steer away from an orbiting piece of satellite junk.
Orionids Meteor Shower Lights Up the Sky
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 21, 2009 |
4 / 5 (4) |
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Earth is currently passing through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, lighting up the night sky with the "fireworks" of the annual Orionids meteor shower.
No sweat: Shuttle's exercise gear on the fritz
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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Space junk from a Soviet satellite no longer poses a threat to Discovery shuttle, but astronauts face a vexing new problem: the spacecraft's exercise equipment is on the fritz, NASA said Monday.
Space station's close call with junk: More to come (Update 2)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 12, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (5) |
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(AP) -- The near-hit of space junk Thursday was a warning shot fired across the bow of the international space station, experts said. There's likely more to come in the future. With less than an hour's notice, ...
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