The dangers of space debris
1 Introduction
Space debris is a concern for many people. The fear of space junk includes fears that an object will fall from space, hit someone or something on Earth and cause serious damage. Space junk is also a concern because it can travel at very high speeds when in orbit around the Earth. This article will explain exactly why we should be concerned about space debris and what we can do to protect ourselves from it.
2 Space debris is moving at speeds of up to 21,600 miles per hour.
Space debris has been traveling at speeds of up to 21,600 miles per hour (34,600 kilometers per hour) in low Earth orbit. The vast majority of this debris is from just two events: the 2009 collision of a US communications satellite with a Russian military satellite and the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test.
3 The Kessler Syndrome is a feedback loop in which collisions between objects in space create more debris and make further collisions more likely.
The Kessler Syndrome is a feedback loop in which collisions between objects in space create more debris and make further collisions more likely. This is called the “domino effect.” The creation of space debris can be caused by many things, such as:
- a collision with another object (such as a satellite or spacecraft)
- accidental explosions from fuel tanks or engines
- intentional destruction by governments to prevent their equipment from falling into enemy hands.
4 There are about 160 million pieces of debris smaller than 1 millimeter in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
There are about 160 million pieces of debris smaller than 1 millimeter in low-Earth orbit (LEO). This means that there are more than 100,000 objects traveling at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour. LEO is the region around Earth between 120 and 2,000 miles above sea level. Space junk can include anything from screws to old satellites to spent rocket stages.
Space junk has been a problem since the beginning of human spaceflight, but it’s only recently that our technological dependence on space has made it an issue with which we have to contend on a daily basis. In addition to being a danger for astronauts who may be injured by debris during spacewalks or who might get hit directly by something small enough not to cause injury but still big enough to tear through their spacesuit, space junk poses risks for expensive technology such as communication satellites and navigational equipment used on spacecrafts themselves—especially if those expensive technologies get hit by another piece of debris and damaged beyond repair or destroyed entirely!
5 About 900,000 pieces of space debris are larger than 1 millimeter but smaller than 1 centimeter.
You’ve probably heard the term “space debris,” but what exactly does it refer to? Space debris includes everything from old rocket bodies to tiny flecks of paint and dust. The United States Space Surveillance Network tracks about 23,000 objects larger than 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter in Earth orbit. A lot of these are dead satellites no longer functional or functioning; others are spent rocket stages or other objects that have been intentionally jettisoned from spacecraft during launch or spacewalks.
Space junk can also include tiny particles called “micrometeorites,” which are so small they aren’t tracked by Earth-based radar systems. These particles can be as small as 1 millimeter (1/25th of an inch) across—about the size of a grain of sand—or even smaller than that! All together, there are about 900,000 pieces of space debris larger than 1 millimeter (1/25th of an inch) but smaller than 1 centimeter (1/20th inch).
6 Five or six times per year there’s a collision with another object in orbit, but luckily most aren’t large enough to damage satellites or the space station.
Fortunately, most of these collisions are small enough to be considered “near misses.” The space station is currently shielded from debris by its large mass, but if a collision is powerful enough and the station’s shields cannot protect it, then astronauts may have to evacuate. In addition to damaging or destroying satellites, collisions can also create even more debris in orbit around Earth. This can cause further damage and leave satellites even less protected than before.
7 NASA spends millions of dollars each year on shielding to protect the space station and other satellites from space debris.
Space debris is a serious threat to the world’s satellites, and it’s only getting worse over time. NASA spends millions of dollars each year on shielding to protect the space station and other satellites from space debris. But shielding isn’t always effective, practical or necessary—and sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.
8 NASA estimates that there are at least 17,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters in size that scientists can track, and over 100 million smaller fragments that NASA also monitors closely.
NASA estimates that there are at least 17,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters in size that scientists can track, and over 100 million smaller fragments that NASA also monitors closely.
This debris affects everything from the International Space Station (ISS) and its astronauts to satellites we use for communication and weather forecasting.
“How much damage has been done to [the ISS]?” asked Chris Hadfield, former astronaut and Commander of Expedition 35/36 on the ISS in 2012-2013. “We don’t know yet.”
9 The International Space Station (ISS) has been hit several times already by small pieces of space junk but has suffered no permanent damage.
- The ISS is hit by space debris several times a year.
- These impacts occur at speeds of up to 21,600 miles per hour.
10 Debris in orbit is a real danger to astronauts and the expensive technology we have in orbit around Earth.
Space debris is a threat to astronauts, as well as expensive technology. The International Space Station (ISS) has been hit by space debris, which is why NASA has to monitor it closely and make sure that astronauts are aware of any danger they may be in. There are many pieces of debris in orbit around Earth:
In 2009, a piece of space junk called 2009-00DDE was the size of a football field; this led to an ISS sighting drill being put into place for all astronauts who flew on the ISS. In 2011, a small satellite was destroyed by another piece of space junk; this resulted in over 20 new pieces being created from both objects.
These pieces can cause serious damage when they collide with spacecrafts or other objects in orbit around Earth because they travel at speeds up to 27,000 mph (11 kilometers per second). This means that even small pieces could cause major damage if they hit an astronaut’s helmet during spacewalks outside their spacecraft!
11 Conclusion
As the number of satellites in orbit increases, so does the amount of debris. We need to take steps to ensure that our space-based infrastructure is protected from collisions with this debris. Scientists are working on solutions like lasers or nets that could help us clean up after ourselves when it comes time for reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, but until then we need to be smarter about how we operate in space and make sure all spacecraft have enough shielding so they can survive impact by a small piece of space junk without breaking apart—like what happened with China’s Long March 4C rocket earlier this year when it collided with one such fragment at an altitude where there weren’t many other objects around!