How Much Space Junk is Orbiting Earth?

Source: NASA

Quantity

There are currently over 34,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 centimetres, millions of smaller pieces, and about 128 million pieces ranging from 1 millimetre to 1 centimetre in orbit around Earth.

Sources

Space junk originates from defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions and explosions, paint flecks, and even tools lost during spacewalks.

Tracking

Space agencies like NASA, ESA, and private organizations use radar and telescopes to track and catalogue space debris to prevent collisions with operational spacecraft.

Collision Risk

Space junk travels at high speeds (up to 28,000 kilometres per hour), making even small pieces potentially catastrophic upon impact with active satellites or space stations.

Kessler Syndrome

The increasing density of space debris raises concerns about the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where collisions create more debris, leading to a cascading effect that could render certain orbits unusable.

Mitigation Efforts

Various methods are being researched and tested to mitigate space debris, such as satellite deorbiting, space cleanup missions using nets or harpoons, and international guidelines to minimize debris creation.