Space Debris
July 19, 2008
Debris objects in low-Earth orbit (LEO)
We are so cool! We are the only planet with floating junk in the solar system, and probably in the entire universe.
“Between the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 and 1 January 2008, approximately 4600 launches have placed some 6000 satellites into orbit, of which about 400 are travelling beyond geostationary orbit or on interplanetary trajectories.
Today, it is estimated that only 800 satellites are operational – roughly 45 percent of these are both close and far from the earth (Low-Earth Orbit and GEO). Space debris comprise the ever-increasing amount of inactive space hardware in orbit around the Earth as well as fragments of spacecraft that have broken up, exploded or otherwise become abandoned. About 50 percent of all traceable objects are due to in-orbit explosion events (about 200) or collision events (less than 10).”
For bigger images and more information go to ESA (European Space Agency)
Objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) – view over the North Pole
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