There are tens of thousands of objects in orbit around the Earth, ranging in size from large satellites to tiny pieces of debris. As of April 2021, the United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN) was tracking over 27,000 artificial objects in orbit. However, it is estimated that there may be millions of smaller pieces of debris that are too small to be tracked.
These objects in orbit include active and inactive satellites, rocket bodies, debris from spacecraft and rockets, and other man-made objects. They are constantly moving in their orbits around the Earth and can pose a risk to space missions and infrastructure.
Types of Debris in Orbit
- Satellites: These are man-made objects launched into space to perform a variety of functions, including communication, navigation, remote sensing, scientific research, and military surveillance. There are thousands of satellites currently in orbit around the Earth.
- Rocket bodies: These are the upper stages of rockets that have been used to launch satellites and other payloads into orbit. Once they have completed their missions, they remain in orbit as space debris.
- Debris from spacecraft and rockets: This includes discarded parts of satellites and rockets, as well as fragments generated by explosions and collisions between objects in space. Some of this debris is very small, but even tiny objects can pose a threat to spacecraft and satellites.
- Microsatellites and CubeSats: These are smaller satellites that are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of applications, including remote sensing, Earth observation, and communication. There are currently thousands of microsatellites and CubeSats in orbit.
- Spacecraft: These include manned spacecraft, such as the International Space Station (ISS), as well as unmanned spacecraft that have been sent to explore the Solar System.
- Natural objects: These include the Moon, asteroids, and other natural objects that orbit the Earth.
Overall, the amount of objects in orbit around the Earth has been increasing over time, which is a growing concern for space agencies and satellite operators. It is important to track and monitor these objects to avoid collisions and ensure the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Why are Space Agencies Concerned?
Space agencies are concerned about the growing amount of orbital objects around the Earth for several reasons:
- Collision risk: With so many objects in orbit, the risk of collisions between objects is increasing. Even small pieces of debris can cause significant damage to spacecraft and satellites. These collisions can generate more debris, creating a cascade effect that further increases the risk of future collisions.
- Safety of astronauts: The presence of debris in orbit poses a risk to astronauts on board the ISS and other manned spacecraft. Even tiny particles can cause damage to spacecraft windows or other critical systems, potentially endangering the crew.
- Impact on space operations: If a collision occurs between two satellites or spacecraft, it can disrupt critical space operations such as communication, navigation, and remote sensing. This can have serious consequences for a range of industries that rely on these services.
- Long-term sustainability: The growing amount of debris in orbit poses a threat to the long-term sustainability of space activities. If the problem is not addressed, the amount of debris could eventually make some orbits unusable, limiting our ability to operate in space.
To address these orbital object concerns, space agencies are working to develop strategies to reduce the amount of debris in orbit and improve our ability to track and monitor objects in space. These efforts include developing new technologies to remove debris from orbit, improving the design of spacecraft and satellites to reduce the amount of debris they generate, and increasing international cooperation to address the problem.
Our research is all made possible by a grant from TechBuzz.US