Another satellite breakup adds to orbital debris woes

 Hey, Space Placers!

In 2006, there were 812 active satellites. By 2022, that number had risen to 6,718. 

Credit: Leo Labs.

From the article:

A large communications satellite has broken up in orbit, affecting users in Europe, Central Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, and adding to the growing swarm of space junk clouding our planet’s neighbourhood.

The amount of debris in orbit around Earth is increasing rapidly. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates there are more than 40,000 pieces larger than 10cm in orbit, and more than 130,000,000 smaller than 1cm.

The total mass of human-made space objects in Earth orbit is some 13,000 tonnes. That’s about the same mass as 90 adult male blue whales. About one third of this mass is debris (4,300 tonnes), mostly in the form of leftover rocket bodies.

We need to limit new junk and pick up the old junk. There are some efforts to do so but only time will tell if they are successful

Sky Guy in VA