Space junk, (noun, “sp-ACE Junk”)
Space junk, also called space debris, refers to trash left in space by humans. This trash includes objects as large as abandoned satellites and as small as flecks of paint.
Humans have been generating space junk for as long as we have been exploring space. This junk includes discarded rocket boosters, old satellites and fragments left over when objects collide. In 2009, for example, two satellites crashed nearly 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) above Siberia. The crash created thousands of new pieces of space junk.
Items lost during space missions make up a small amount of space junk. In 1965, American astronaut Ed White lost a glove during a spacewalk. Other astronauts have lost cameras, tools and even a toothbrush.
Space junk is a growing problem. That’s because it shares the same, well, space, as other objects that orbit Earth. One of those objects is the International Space Station. There’s also weather, communication and other satellites people on Earth rely on.
Objects in orbit around Earth typically zoom at scorching speeds. Space junk can zip around at up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) per second — or 29,000 kilometers (18,000 miles) per hour. At such speeds, any collision — even with something tiny — could rip holes in a spacecraft or damage satellites.
More than 36,500 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) orbit Earth today. They’re joined by more than 300 million even smaller pieces. As more trash ends up in space, more collisions will likely occur. Those collisions will break the trash into smaller — but still dangerous — pieces.
Some space junk eventually re-enters the atmosphere. But that can take a long time. Debris orbiting closer to the Earth may fall into the atmosphere after a few years. Objects farther out may take hundreds or thousands of years.
On re-entry, smaller space junk typically burns up in the atmosphere. So, it rarely hits Earth. But large pieces sometimes do. Debris from Skylab — an abandoned space station — fell from orbit on July 11, 1979. Chunks of the station fell over Western Australia and the Indian Ocean. Australian officials fined NASA $400 for littering.
In a sentence
In 2021, NASA instructed the seven astronauts on board the International Space Station to take cover as they approached a region littered with space junk.
Check out the full list of Scientists Say.
📚 NCsolve - Your Global Education Partner 🌍
Empowering Students with AI-Driven Learning Solutions
Welcome to NCsolve — your trusted educational platform designed to support students worldwide. Whether you're preparing for Class 10, Class 11, or Class 12, NCsolve offers a wide range of learning resources powered by AI Education.
Our platform is committed to providing detailed solutions, effective study techniques, and reliable content to help you achieve academic success. With our AI-driven tools, you can now access personalized study guides, practice tests, and interactive learning experiences from anywhere in the world.
🔎 Why Choose NCsolve?
At NCsolve, we believe in smart learning. Our platform offers:
- ✅ AI-powered solutions for faster and accurate learning.
- ✅ Step-by-step NCERT Solutions for all subjects.
- ✅ Access to Sample Papers and Previous Year Questions.
- ✅ Detailed explanations to strengthen your concepts.
- ✅ Regular updates on exams, syllabus changes, and study tips.
- ✅ Support for students worldwide with multi-language content.
🌐 Explore Our Websites:
🔹 ncsolve.blogspot.com
🔹 ncsolve-global.blogspot.com
🔹 edu-ai.blogspot.com
📲 Connect With Us:
👍 Facebook: NCsolve
📧 Email: ncsolve@yopmail.com
😇 WHAT'S YOUR DOUBT DEAR ☕️
🌎 YOU'RE BEST 🏆