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Space debris consists of derelict spacecraft (or pieces of those objects), discarded launch hardware, and material shed from such objects. The debris results from collisions between functional and non-functional spacecraft, or between those objects and existing debris, or from spontaneous breakups of functional or non-functional spacecraft. The sizes of these objects range from many meters to less than one micron (one millionth of a meter). Space debris threatens functional spacecraft through collisions that can disable or destroy satellites. Collisions have very serious outcomes, including property damage and further threats to other orbiting objects.
To the extent that some spacecraft temporarily house humans living and working in space, a distinct risk to human life in space is developing quickly. It is thought that runaway debris-generating processes can lead to “Kessler syndrome”, a condition in which space debris proliferates suddenly and exponentially. If this happens, it may become impossible to launch anything new to orbit or even transit through LEO. Some debris may re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Many small fragments are completely destroyed, but some survive passage through the atmosphere and can cause harm to people and property on the ground.
Image credit: NASA
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