Space Junk: An Overview of Human-Made Debris in Orbit

Any piece of machinery or other debris left in space by humans is referred to as "space junk" or "space debris." It can refer to large objects such as dead satellites that have either failed to complete their mission or have been abandoned in orbit after it has been completed. Additionally, various apps have been developed to track and monitor the movement of space junk to ensure the safety of operational satellites and spacecraft. These apps provide real-time updates and predictions regarding the trajectory and potential collisions of space debris. On the moon, there is also some garbage that was created by humans. However, efforts are underway to address this issue, and innovative apps are being designed to aid in the clean-up and removal of lunar debris.

How much garbage is floating around in space?

There are approximately 2,000 operational satellites currently orbiting the Earth, but there are an additional 3,000 defunct satellites scattered throughout space. In addition to this, there are approximately 34,000 pieces of space junk that are larger than 10 centimeters in size, and millions more pieces that are smaller but still pose a threat if they collide with another object in space.

Space junk in numbers

• 2,000 operational satellites currently orbiting the Earth
• 3,000 dead satellites orbiting the Earth at this time.

A fragment of the rocket that carried the Sputnik-1 satellite into orbit around the Earth in 1957 was the first piece of man-made debris to be found in space.

United State Strategic Command

According to the United States Strategic Command, the estimated number of pieces of space debris measuring 10 centimeters or more in diameter in 2011 rose to 22,000, from 17,000 in 2007. This marked an increase from 2007. The Orbital Debris Program Office at NASA estimates that there are currently more than 500,000 debris objects in orbit that range in size from one centimeter to ten centimeters. In 2011, it was estimated that the total mass of all the objects in low-Earth orbit was 2.3 million kilograms.

Is Space Junk Dangerous?

There is no danger posed by space junk on its own; the danger arises when it comes into contact with another object, such as a spacecraft. For instance, if an astronaut is performing routine maintenance in space and a wrench slips out of their hand while they are working on it, there is no way to get it back. After that, it will enter orbit, moving at a speed of approximately 6 miles per second. At this speed, the instrument is a hazardous object that should not be used in space. In the event that it collides with a space vehicle that is carrying human passengers.

Managing Space Debris: The Options of Reentry or Redirection

The second option is to position the satellite at an even greater distance from the planet. It may take a significant amount of fuel for a satellite to be able to slow down to the point where it can enter the atmosphere again. This is especially the case when a satellite is moving through space at a very high altitude. You have the option of nudging the objects into the atmosphere or pushing them to less congested orbits, also known as graveyard orbits, where they won't pose as much of a threat of colliding with other objects. This gives you the choice between going down or going up.

Addressing the Growing Problem of Space Debris: Proposed Solutions and Their Effectiveness

Economists at the University of Colorado Boulder proposed in May 2020 that an annual fee be attached to each satellite that is put into orbit, with the fee increasing by 14% annually, in the hope that the fee might discourage the unnecessary accumulation of space junk. Other measures have been proposed over the years, including the removal of large pieces of debris using instruments such as harpoons and lasers, which would allow them to descend into the Earth's atmosphere and burn up there. These are just some of the ideas that have been proposed. On the other hand, there is not yet a solution that is acknowledged by everyone as being effective.