Millions of Debris Pieces Endanger Space Stations and Astronauts, Prompting Calls for Action
Space junk has become a growing threat to both space stations and astronauts in Earth’s orbit, with dangerous debris posing a risk to missions and satellites. A significant incident in November 2021 highlighted the peril when five astronauts and two cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had to take shelter after Russia destroyed one of its own satellites, causing a cloud of wreckage to put the station in danger. NASA quickly ordered the crew to don protective suits and take refuge inside their capsules as debris circled the station.
This wasn’t an isolated event. Just weeks later, the ISS faced additional threats from more space junk, forcing mission controllers to halt planned spacewalks and even dodge a US rocket body that had been orbiting Earth for decades. The accumulation of debris in low Earth orbit (LEO)—where most satellites and space stations operate—has created a hazardous environment. Holger Krag, head of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) space debris office, warned that low Earth orbit, the most popular altitude for missions, has experienced frequent collisions, increasing the risk of further damage.
With millions of debris pieces cluttering Earth’s orbit, the question remains: what can be done to address this growing threat to both human and technological activities in space?
