Latest News About Space Junk and Orbital Debris
The amount of trash in Earth orbit, from spent rocket stages, broken satellites and micrometeoroids, is growing. Scientists are working on methods to combat the threat of space junk and orbital debris collisions.
Related Topics: International Space Station, Incredible Space Tech, Military Space, NASA
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Latest about space junk
FAA requiring investigation into SpaceX Starship's Flight 7 explosion
By Mike Wall published
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring an investigation into the explosion of SpaceX's Starship upper stage during the vehicle's seventh test flight on Jan. 16.
SpaceX Starship explosion likely caused by propellant leak, Elon Musk says
By Mike Wall published
SpaceX has traced the likely cause of the explosion that destroyed its Starship vehicle during its Jan. 16 test flight to a leak of liquid oxygen or liquid methane.
Watch SpaceX Starship explode over Atlantic Ocean on Flight Test 7 (videos)
By Brett Tingley, Mike Wall published
The upper stage of SpaceX's Starship megarocket exploded over the Atlantic Ocean during the vehicle's Flight 7 test today (Jan. 16), and lots of people saw the sky show.
World's 1st wooden satellite deploys from ISS to demonstrate cleaner spacecraft tech (photo)
By Tereza Pultarova published
LignoSat's six-month mission will demonstrate whether wood could help reduce the environmental impact of spaceflight in the future.
Space debris crash in Kenya village believed to be from leftover rocket hardware
By Leonard David published
Kenya Space Agency officials report a large, “red-hot” metallic ring roughly 8 feet (2.5 meters) in diameter fell from the sky, crashing into Mukuku village.
See a dead Chinese satellite burn up as a brilliant fireball in the night sky (video)
By Tariq Malik published
The satellite was one of China's first-ever commercial Earth imaging satellites. RIP, SuperView 1-02.
'Tragedy of the commons' in space: We need to act now to prevent an orbital debris crisis, scientists say
By Mike Wall published
Humanity needs to address the growing space junk problem now, before it gets completely out of hand, scientists stress.
Seismometers track atmospheric shock waves from incoming space debris
By Farah Aziz Annesha published
Seismometers Track Atmospheric Shock Waves from Incoming Space Debris
Will the International Space Station's 2031 death dive cause pollution problems?
By Leonard David published
The International Space Station will be steered to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere in 2031, if all goes to plan. Should we be worried about the pollution this death dive will cause?
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