space debris

Should we treat Mars as a space archaeology museum? This researcher believes so

Mars isn’t just a cold, barren rock. Anthropologists argue that the tracks of rovers and broken probes are archaeological treasures.

The world's first wooden satellite was launched into space

The satellite is made from magnolia wood, which was historically used for samurai sheaths.

The Growing Menace of Space Junk: How a Minefield of Orbiting Debris Threatens Our Future in Space

Low-orbit Earth could become inoperable for spacecraft and satellites if this complacency persists, with dire consequences.

Scientists spot space debris in daylight, helping satellites 'social distance'

Spotting space debris during the day could help save satellites from costly collisions.

Orbital 'littering' fee might solve our space junk problem

Space junk is a classic example of the Tragedy of the Commons -- now it's time to take responsability and pay up.

ISS astronauts could use laser cannon to blast off hazardous space junk

Astronauts onboard the ISS may soon get a new "toy" - a space laser cannon to blast off space debris that might threaten the space station. Even a tiny scratch or dent could cause massive problems, and with us putting more and more stuff in space, the risk of damage constantly increases too.

Gecko sex in space, and why this is good for science

Ruscosmos, the Russian space agency, recently launched geckos in space to see how zero gravity affects mating. The findings have much broader implications that extend humanity's ultimate goal of reaching for the stars.

Ballistic test on Kevlar shows what could happen to the ISS from space debris impacts

We’ve mentioned on numerous occasions the growing problem of space debris and voiced our concerns that, if left unchecked, the thousands of metal junk fragments currently out there could seriously affect space missions and even threaten lives. In Earth’s orbit, even a tiny metal fragment could potentially wreak havoc upon impact with a spacecraft or satellite because of […]

CO2 emissions might lead to more space junk hazard

Ever increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere are not only hazardous to life on the planet’s surface, but also to human operations in space. A new study has found that an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere upper levels could push made-made objects orbiting the planet further away from their trajectories, resulting in a […]

Pluto's moons pose grave threat to NASA's New Horizons spacecraft

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is currently seven years into its nine-and-a-half-year journey across the Solar System to explore Pluto. Since its launch in 2006, however, astronomers have discovered two more moons orbiting the dwarf-planet, which now pose a grave threat to the spacecraft’s initial navigation course because of space debris orbiting them. “We’ve found more and […]

ISS crew took to their escape pods this weekend after space debris collision alert

This Friday, ground mission control ordered the current stationed astronaut crew at the International Space Station to head for the escape capsules as a safety precaution in light of a threatening space junk flyby. This is the third time in 12 years an ISS crew had to take this extreme measure. The space debris in […]