Space Junk

Space junk, also known as space debris, refers to non-functional human-made objects orbiting Earth. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegration of spacecraft. As more satellites are launched and space missions increase, the amount of space junk has grown significantly, creating potential hazards for operational spacecraft and astronauts. The debris poses a risk of collision, which can generate even more fragments, thus exacerbating the problem in a phenomenon known as the Kessler Syndrome. Space agencies and organizations are actively researching methods to track, manage, and mitigate space junk to ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.