Space Junk

See the Dramatic Final Moments of the Doomed ERS-2 Satellite

When a satellite reaches the end of its life, it has only two destinations. It can either be maneuvered into…

3 weeks ago

Space Junk is Going to be a Problem for Vera Rubin

The Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) is different than other large telescopes, and that difference makes it more vulnerable to space…

2 months ago

99% of Space Junk is Undetectable. That Could Change Soon

Private and military organizations are tracking some of the 170 million pieces of space junk orbiting the planet, but they're…

3 months ago

ESA Plans to Eliminate New Space Debris by 2030

What can we do about space junk? We know how much debris is in orbit, and we know the problem…

4 months ago

Oops. Astronauts Lost a Tool Bag During a Spacewalk!

I know for a fact it’s one of the most annoying things that can happen.  I’ve done it lots; whether…

4 months ago

A Russian Satellite Has Shifted Within 60 km of Another Spacecraft

When it comes to saber-rattling, few countries employ it as much as Russia does. During their ongoing invasion and occupation…

5 months ago

Spaceflight is Polluting the Atmosphere with Metal

Humans can't seem to interact with the environment at all without fouling it in some way. From plastic bags in…

5 months ago

A Satellite Deployed a Drag Sail and Removed Itself from Orbit Five Years Early

In an age of increasing "stuff" orbiting Earth one big concern is what happens if one satellite hits another. The…

7 months ago

If There Were a War in Space, Debris Would Destroy all Remaining Satellites in About 40 Years

On one particular day in 2021, astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the ISS must have felt a pin-prick of fear and…

9 months ago

Researchers are Working on a Tractor Beam System for Space

Human technology is crossing another threshold. Tractor beams have been common in science fiction for decades. Now a team of…

10 months ago