Could a Bunch of Junk Derail U.S. Activities in Space?

NASA, the Defense Department and U.S. Space Force all have big plans—and a potentially bigger obstacle.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 06:35 PM ET

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What looks like a bullet hole in the panel of NASA’s Solar Max satellite was actually created by an impact with space junk. [Credit: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Orbital debris, or "space junk," is a severe and escalating problem with trillions of pieces threatening spacecraft and future space operations.
The growing number of satellites, like those from SpaceX, increases the risk of collisions and could lead to Kessler Syndrome, where cascading impacts render Earth's orbit unusable.
While U.S. agencies have initiated measures like limiting satellite lifetimes and planning for Near-Earth Object defense, a NASA study suggests developing technology to avoid debris is more cost-effective than removal.
To prevent a catastrophic "Kessler disaster," stakeholders need incentives to manage and clean up Earth's orbit, as current and future space endeavors are at risk.

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Space junk, or orbital debris left by humans in space, including satellite fragments, is a problem.

Currently, Earth’s orbit contains hundreds of millions, and by some estimates, trillions of pieces of debris—see for yourself. The vast majority of these are tiny and pose no threat. But a speck of debris just 10 centimeters in diameter can cause significant damage to spacecraft, and there are at least 36,000 objects that fit that description.