Space Debris

Thousands of satellites now orbit the Earth, providing communication, navigation and weather data. Alongside them, however, is a growing cloud of debris left behind by earlier missions. This includes broken satellites, discarded rocket parts and countless tiny fragments. Travelling at enormous speeds, even a small piece can severely damage a spacecraft. Each collision creates more fragments, increasing the risk of further accidents. Scientists fear this chain reaction could eventually make some orbits unusable. Engineers are developing methods to capture debris or guide it back into the atmosphere. New rules also require satellites to be removed once their missions end. Keeping space clean may prove as important as protecting our oceans.