Space Debris

The swift rise of internet satellites, forming megaconstellations, and accumulating space junk are already starting to mess with astronomers’ research. The problem is growing exponentially, scientists warn in a series of papers published recently in the journal Nature Astronomy. And they want regulators to do something about it. The swarm…

Weeks after a balloon, an “octagonal structure” and other flying objects put Americans on edge, the US is dealing with another mysterious phenomenon in the sky. On Friday night in Sacramento, St Patrick’s Day partiers spotted streaks of light blazing a path through the California night. A video posted to…

Home News Spaceflight NASA and other entities are looking to clean up space debris around Earth before it gets severe, as shown in this illustration. (Image credit: EvgeniyShkolenko via iStock / Getty Images Plus) A new NASA report finds the space debris problem could be greatly reduced in as little…

cape canaveral, florida —  Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home. Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa. The U.S.-Russian-Japanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides…

Home News An illustration of space junk, or space debris (Image credit: Shutterstock) There's a floating garbage dump orbiting Earth, and it's getting fuller every year.  Space debris — known colloquially as space junk — is the name that scientists give to the thousands of pieces of broken satellites and…

A group of scientists want a legally-binding treaty to ensure Earth’s orbit isn’t irreparably harmed. Published March 9, 2023 02:14PM EST Houston, we have a problem. The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with landfills groaning under the stress. We've delivered more than 170 trillion plastic…

A new piece of space junk has taken centre stage at a country show in New South Wales, the fifth of its kind found in the Snowy Mountains region. Key points:Pieces of space junk were found near Dalgety in July last yearThe Dalgety Show has celebrated its local ties to the…

Home News Spaceflight New space rules will need to come fast to support commercial space stations and moon settlements, and guard against swiftly-growing space debris. That was a key takeaway message NASA and other government departments delivered to the National Space Council's (NSpC) users' advisory group (opens in new tab),…

BEIJING, Feb.19 -- According to the consensus reached by China, Russia and South Africa, from February 20 to 27, the navies of the three countries will hold the second joint maritime exercise in the eastern waters and airspace from Durban to Richards Bay of South Africa, said the Chinese defense…

Home References Spaceflight Old satellites and used rocket stages remain in orbit around Earth in some cases for thousands of years. (Image credit: European Space Agency) The space around our planet is getting cluttered. Thousands of satellites and millions of out-of-control fragments of space debris hurtle high above our heads,…