Study Finds Nearly Half of Tracked Objects in Orbit Are Space Debris

Nearly half of tracked objects orbiting Earth consist of space debris, according to a May report from engineering supply company Accu. U.S. org and found that 15,587 of 33,269 objects are discarded launch components or rocket bodies. The remaining 17,682 objects are active or inactive satellites. Some satellites that have completed their missions add to the total debris count.

Objects travel at speeds up to 20,000 miles per hour. A 10-centimeter fragment can destroy a satellite, while a 1-centimeter piece can damage spacecraft shielding, the report stated. In 2016 a paint fleck created a 7-millimeter gouge in an International Space Station window.

In 2021 the ISS crew sheltered from a cloud of Russian debris, and in November a Chinese spacecraft sustained damage from an unidentified fragment.

China accounts for 34 percent of the debris, while the Commonwealth of Independent States and the United States each account for 31 percent. The three entities together represent 96 percent of tracked objects. The number of objects in orbit rose sharply after 2015 with increased commercial launches. The report notes that debris is accumulating faster than removal efforts can address.

Companies including Astroscale and ClearSpace are testing drag sails, laser systems, and magnetic collectors. NASA is also participating in these projects. The report concludes that continued growth in satellite deployments will increase collision risks and require new engineering standards for spacecraft.