What is Space Debris?

Space debris, or space junk, is a growing problem in Earth’s orbit. It includes old satellites, used rocket parts, and fragments from past collisions. With more objects being launched into space every year, the risk of accidents is increasing.

Even tiny pieces of debris can cause massive damage due to their high speed. Keeping track of and managing this debris is essential for the future of space travel.

Types and Origins

Some debris comes from satellites that are no longer working. Others are parts of rockets that were used to launch payloads and then abandoned. In a few cases, countries have destroyed their own satellites, creating thousands of new fragments.

These objects travel at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour. A paint chip moving that fast can pierce a spacecraft wall. This is why even small debris is carefully tracked and avoided by active missions.

Mitigation and Future Challenges

Agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency are developing ways to clean up space. Some ideas include nets, harpoons, or satellites that can grab and drag debris into Earth's atmosphere to burn up.

More importantly, new missions are being designed to avoid creating additional debris. This includes better disposal plans, like moving satellites into “graveyard orbits” or guiding them to burn up safely after use.

Conclusion

Space debris is a serious threat to satellites, astronauts, and future exploration. Solving it will require international cooperation and creative engineering. If we want a sustainable future in orbit, we’ll have to treat space like the precious resource it is.