Space Debris

Thousands of satellites now orbit the Earth, providing communication, navigation and weather data.

如今有數以千計的衛星環繞地球運行，提供通訊、導航與氣象資料。

Alongside them, however, is a growing cloud of debris left behind by earlier missions.

然而，與它們並存的，還有一團不斷擴大、由先前任務遺留下來的碎片雲。

This includes broken satellites, discarded rocket parts and countless tiny fragments.

其中包括損壞的衛星、遭丟棄的火箭零件，以及無數細小的碎片。

Travelling at enormous speeds, even a small piece can severely damage a spacecraft.

由於速度極快，即使是一小塊碎片也可能嚴重損壞太空船。

Each collision creates more fragments, increasing the risk of further accidents.

每一次碰撞都會產生更多碎片，增加發生更多意外的風險。

Scientists fear this chain reaction could eventually make some orbits unusable.

科學家擔心，這種連鎖反應最終可能使某些軌道無法使用。

Engineers are developing methods to capture debris or guide it back into the atmosphere.

工程師正在研發捕捉碎片或將其導引回大氣層的方法。

New rules also require satellites to be removed once their missions end.

新規定也要求衛星在任務結束後必須予以移除。

Keeping space clean may prove as important as protecting our oceans.

保持太空整潔，可能與保護我們的海洋同樣重要。