#spacedebris — Public Fediverse posts

46,590 tracked objects, another 1.2 million we can’t see: The mess humans have created in space

A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket slammed into the Moon on August 5 after drifting through…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Science #Falcon9rocket #Moon #spacedebris #spacejunk #spaceX #spacexrocketmooncollision
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/838123/

46,590 tracked objects, another 1.2 million we can’t see: The mess humans have created in space

A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket slammed into the Moon on August 5 after drifting through…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Science #Falcon9rocket #Moon #spacedebris #spacejunk #spaceX #spacexrocketmooncollision
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/838123/

🇨🇳 At a perigee of about 396 kilometers and an apogee of 482, the leftover pieces should reenter the atmosphere within a few years.

The breakups are becoming a pattern for the #LongMarch6 family. A 6A stage from 2022 left 533 catalogued fragments, and a 2024 event produced more than 700 pieces.

#China wrote stage-disposal rules in 2023 that call for deorbiting and passivation of spent hardware, yet the failures keep coming https://spacesecuritynews.com/leolabs-spots-a-chinese-rocket-stage-breaking-up-days-after-launch/

#SpaceDebris

🇨🇳 At a perigee of about 396 kilometers and an apogee of 482, the leftover pieces should reenter the atmosphere within a few years.

The breakups are becoming a pattern for the #LongMarch6 family. A 6A stage from 2022 left 533 catalogued fragments, and a 2024 event produced more than 700 pieces.

#China wrote stage-disposal rules in 2023 that call for deorbiting and passivation of spent hardware, yet the failures keep coming https://spacesecuritynews.com/leolabs-spots-a-chinese-rocket-stage-breaking-up-days-after-launch/

#SpaceDebris

🇨🇳 At a perigee of about 396 kilometers and an apogee of 482, the leftover pieces should reenter the atmosphere within a few years.

The breakups are becoming a pattern for the #LongMarch6 family. A 6A stage from 2022 left 533 catalogued fragments, and a 2024 event produced more than 700 pieces.

#China wrote stage-disposal rules in 2023 that call for deorbiting and passivation of spent hardware, yet the failures keep coming https://spacesecuritynews.com/leolabs-spots-a-chinese-rocket-stage-breaking-up-days-after-launch/

#SpaceDebris

🇨🇳 At a perigee of about 396 kilometers and an apogee of 482, the leftover pieces should reenter the atmosphere within a few years.

The breakups are becoming a pattern for the #LongMarch6 family. A 6A stage from 2022 left 533 catalogued fragments, and a 2024 event produced more than 700 pieces.

#China wrote stage-disposal rules in 2023 that call for deorbiting and passivation of spent hardware, yet the failures keep coming https://spacesecuritynews.com/leolabs-spots-a-chinese-rocket-stage-breaking-up-days-after-launch/

#SpaceDebris

🇨🇳 At a perigee of about 396 kilometers and an apogee of 482, the leftover pieces should reenter the atmosphere within a few years.

The breakups are becoming a pattern for the #LongMarch6 family. A 6A stage from 2022 left 533 catalogued fragments, and a 2024 event produced more than 700 pieces.

#China wrote stage-disposal rules in 2023 that call for deorbiting and passivation of spent hardware, yet the failures keep coming https://spacesecuritynews.com/leolabs-spots-a-chinese-rocket-stage-breaking-up-days-after-launch/

#SpaceDebris

Chinese reconnaissance satellite breaks up in rare retrograde orbit

HELSINKI — A Chinese satellite launched into an unusual orbit early this year has suffered an apparent fragmentation…
#NewsBeep #News #Space #China #debris #LongMarch6A #Science #SN #spacedebris #UK #UnitedKingdom #Yaogansatellites
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/760352/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/672746/ Chinese reconnaissance satellite breaks up in rare retrograde orbit #China #debris #Éire #IE #Ireland #LongMarch6A #Science #SN #Space #SpaceDebris #YaoganSatellites

These incidents are becoming so common that the #Australian 🇦🇺 #SpaceAgency has put together a trio of steps to take if suspected space debris is discovered.

"Very often they will be made of something like titanium which is really good at surviving. Just don't let them randomly reenter. Bring them down via controlled reentry and then if they are survivable it doesn't matter because you dump them somewhere where there aren't any people" 🤕 https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/metal-spheres-found-in-australia-show-how-little-we-still-know-about-falling-space-debris-experts-say

#SpaceDebris #SpaceRegulation

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket's Lunar Impact Raises Concerns for Future Moon Missions

📰 Original title: The SpaceX Falcon Lunar Crash Is a Warning for Moon Bases

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Users: It's clickbait ⚠️

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-s-lunar-impact-raises-concerns-for-future-moon-missions.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#science #spaceexploration #lunarmissions #spacedebris

@OGJester Would also make a hole ... If you are interested in #spacedebris, I warmly recommend to follow #astronomer and specialist @sundogplanets !

#spacejunk #spacex #followFriday

@Nonilex

#Starship executed a landing flip, landing burn, and soft splashdown, coming to rest intact in the Indian Ocean 🌊 and providing critical views of an #intact heatshield for the first time https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-13

If you believe you have identified a piece of debris, please contact the #SpaceX #Debris Hotline at 📞 1-866-623-0234 or at ✉️ [email protected] https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-7

#SpaceDebris #PressOffice #FreedomOfInformation

@sundogplanets
Photo of some man-made junk on an Australian beach.
Planet Venus, swamp gas, weather balloon, air inversion with reflected headlights, flock of birds, aliens, in that order.
Can't be genius Musk's wild west space plundering and colonizing, now can it?
He's got enough money to get away with anything he wants, and the rest of us can just bugger off, as far as he and his corporate friends are concerned.
Meanwhile, late stage capitalism is becoming increasingly dangerous for all life forms in the ecosphere.
#SpaceDebris #Musk #Ecosphere #Capitalism

@sundogplanets
Photo of some man-made junk on an Australian beach.
Planet Venus, swamp gas, weather balloon, air inversion with reflected headlights, flock of birds, aliens, in that order.
Can't be genius Musk's wild west space plundering and colonizing, now can it?
He's got enough money to get away with anything he wants, and the rest of us can just bugger off, as far as he and his corporate friends are concerned.
Meanwhile, late stage capitalism is becoming increasingly dangerous for all life forms in the ecosphere.
#SpaceDebris #Musk #Ecosphere #Capitalism

@sundogplanets
Photo of some man-made junk on an Australian beach.
Planet Venus, swamp gas, weather balloon, air inversion with reflected headlights, flock of birds, aliens, in that order.
Can't be genius Musk's wild west space plundering and colonizing, now can it?
He's got enough money to get away with anything he wants, and the rest of us can just bugger off, as far as he and his corporate friends are concerned.
Meanwhile, late stage capitalism is becoming increasingly dangerous for all life forms in the ecosphere.
#SpaceDebris #Musk #Ecosphere #Capitalism

@sundogplanets
Photo of some man-made junk on an Australian beach.
Planet Venus, swamp gas, weather balloon, air inversion with reflected headlights, flock of birds, aliens, in that order.
Can't be genius Musk's wild west space plundering and colonizing, now can it?
He's got enough money to get away with anything he wants, and the rest of us can just bugger off, as far as he and his corporate friends are concerned.
Meanwhile, late stage capitalism is becoming increasingly dangerous for all life forms in the ecosphere.
#SpaceDebris #Musk #Ecosphere #Capitalism

@sundogplanets
Photo of some man-made junk on an Australian beach.
Planet Venus, swamp gas, weather balloon, air inversion with reflected headlights, flock of birds, aliens, in that order.
Can't be genius Musk's wild west space plundering and colonizing, now can it?
He's got enough money to get away with anything he wants, and the rest of us can just bugger off, as far as he and his corporate friends are concerned.
Meanwhile, late stage capitalism is becoming increasingly dangerous for all life forms in the ecosphere.
#SpaceDebris #Musk #Ecosphere #Capitalism

Analyst on #China’s spent rocket stages: “Things only continue to get worse”

Spent upper stages are the most dangerous kind of #SpaceDebris.

Eric Berger – May 26, 2026

"Further growth is anticipated from both the company’s state-owned enterprises as well as a rapidly expanding number of private launch companies. There is nothing wrong with this, as China’s rapid growth in launch has been mirrored by the United States and, in particular, SpaceX.

"However there is an issue with these launches, as China appears to be ignoring long-established norms about disposing of the upper stages of rockets. These are the parts of the vehicle that separate from the first stage of a rocket and push a satellite or spacecraft into orbit."

[...]

" 'China… continues to abandon many rocket bodies in high low-Earth orbit,' Shell wrote on LinkedIn early Monday. 'The total mass of orbital debris is a key variable influencing the long-term sustainment of space. There is broad agreement that abandoning rocket body upper stages in long-lived orbits is not a best practice. In fact, all the major space-faring nations have acknowledged this.' ”

Read more:
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/05/analyst-on-chinas-spent-rocket-stages-things-only-continue-to-get-worse/

#SpaceJunk #KesslerSyndrome #KesslerEffect #Megaconstellations #DarkSkies #SpacePollution #SpaceX #LowEarthOrbit

‘This Feels Fragile’ - How A Satellite-Smashing Chain Reaction Could Spiral Out Of Control [space junk]
--
Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially
--
https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control <-- shared interactive technical/media article, with outstanding visualisations
--
https://www.space-track.org/ | https://celestrak.org/ | https://planet4589.org/space/stats/ <-- various satellite tracking efforts
--
#spacejunk #spacedebris #visualisation #spatialanalysis #orbit #spatiotemporal #satellite #fragments #history #Sputnik #risk #hazard #mitigation #deorbiting #reentry #orbitallanes #military #communication #weather #remotesensing #astronomy #earthobservation #lightpollution #orbitaltraffic #collision #debris #usecase #logistics #crowded #coordination #planning #tracking #technology
@TheGuardian

More reasons to say "No!" to #SpaceX and #Starlink (and other unnecessary satellites!).

SpaceX rocket fireball linked to plume of polluting lithium

Georgina Rannard, Science reporter, February 19, 2025

Excerpts: "When a SpaceX rocket failure set the skies aflame over western Europe last February, no-one was sure if the debris was also polluting our #atmosphere.

"Now scientists are directly linking the uncontrolled rocket re-entry to a plume of #lithium measured less than 100km above Earth.

"It is the first time researchers have drawn a direct link between a known piece of #SpaceDebris crashing to Earth and #pollution levels.

They warn that as SpaceX chief #ElonMusk pledges to launch one million satellites in the coming years, this #contamination could be the tip of the iceberg."

[...]

"Earlier research has suggested that 10% of aerosols in the atmosphere are already contaminated by space debris.

"SpaceX has not responded to emailed requests from BBC News for comment. The researchers also sent their findings to the company but did not receive a response.

"Almost 30,000 pieces of debris are calculated to be free-floating in space, created when rockets break up in space or satellites disintegrate.

"Scientists warn that the debris is congesting space and threatens collision with rockets, the International Space Station, and our planet.

"Musk's SpaceX is the world's leading company for rocket launches including for sending humans into space and maintaining a network of 10,000 Starlink internet satellites.

"Musk recently announced he has applied to launch one million satellites to support #ArtificialIntelligence (#AI) data centres in space.

"Scientists warn that as humans move more activities off-Earth, more debris will fall to Earth, polluting as it plummets."

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd8z4eqlxno

#LithiumPollution #AtmosphericPollution #NoAIInSpace #NoDatacentersInSpace #LEO #KesslerEffect #SpaceJunk #DarkSkies #LowerEarthOrbit #LEO #AIBullshitMachines #TechBros #xAI #Technopoly #SpacePollution
#AISucks #DataCenters #SkyNet #KesslerSyndrome #USPol #WorldPol #SpaceNews

"Reducing the amount of debris orbiting Earth in space requires more international cooperation, the acting CEO of the Saudi Space Agency said at a Riyadh event on Monday. Speaking at the opening address of the Space Debris Conference 2026, Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi highlighted the importance of tackling waste orbiting the planet."

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2630678/

#SpaceDebris #SpaceEnvironmentalism

#SpaceX gets #FCC approval to launch 7,500 more #Starlink #satellites😱

by Anthony Ha
Sat, January 10, 2026

Excerpt: "The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it has given SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 of its second-generation Starlink satellites, for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide.

"Beyond simply allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand its high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites can operate across five frequencies to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage in the U.S.

"Reuters reports that SpaceX had requested approval for an additional 15,000 satellites, but the FCC said it would 'defer authorization of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites.'

"SpaceX must launch 50% of the approved Starlink satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining 50% by December 2031, the FCC says."

Read more:
https://tech.yahoo.com/science/articles/spacex-gets-fcc-approval-launch-221121996.html

#KesslerSyndrome #SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution

This will guarantee #KesslerSyndrome sooner than later!😱

As #SpaceX Works Toward 50K #Starlink Satellites, #China Eyes Deploying 200K

China's Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation submits filings for two constellations, each of which could support 96,714 satellites, for a total of 193,428.

Michael Kan, January 12, 2026

Excerpt: "To counter China, the FCC has been expediting and streamlining its satellite approvals. This includes clearing SpaceX to operate another 7,500 satellites for its second-generation constellation. The regulator has also approved plans to operate Starlink satellites at lower orbits, from 340km to 485km. Currently, Starlink has over 9,400 orbiting satellites."

Read more:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/as-spacex-works-toward-50k-starlink-satellites-china-eyes-deploying-200k?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=B

#SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution

#Starlink satellites lift off on #SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman, Wednesday (Jan. 14).

Excerpt: "SpaceX added 29 more Starlink satellites to its low Earth orbit #megaconstellation today (Jan. 14).

"A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the broadband internet relay units launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday. The rocket reached its preliminary orbit about nine minutes after the 1:08 p.m. EST (1808 GMT) liftoff."

Read more / watch video:
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-6-98-1085-ccsfs-asog

#LEO #KesslerSyndrome #KesslerEffect #SpaceJunk #SpaceDebris #Satellites #LowEarthOrbit

#SpaceDebris recycling ♻️ to supply raw materials for construction on the #Moon 🌙 https://nebula.esa.int/content/analysis-space-debris-recycling-potential-supply-raw-materials-construction-moon

#ISRU #SpaceRecycling

#Sonnenstürme verkürzen die Lebensdauer von #Starlink-Satelliten und lassen sie schneller zur Erde zurückkehren.

Durch erhöhte #Atmosphärendichte steigt der Luftwiderstand, was zu unvorhersehbaren #Bahnabweichungen führt. Das erschwert die #Kollisionsvermeidung und könnte das Risiko für herabfallende #Trümmerteile erhöhen. Mit Tausenden Satelliten im Orbit wird das #Weltraummanagement zunehmend komplexer.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.13752

#Preprint #GeomagnetischeStürme #Raumfahrt #SpaceDebris #SpaceX

"With the rapid expansion of commercial space flight, thousands of satellites are being launched each year. Yet few owners have plans to remove them from orbit in a controlled way. Everyone, everywhere — on Earth’s surface, flying in aeroplanes, as well as in space — is increasingly at risk from these projectiles. Space-faring nations and companies must urgently address this threat."

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00797-7

#SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris #Space #SpacePolicy

🚀 The Center for Space Environmentalism (CSE) has launched!

🪐 CSE is a group of scholars and experts who inform and advocate for issues pertaining to the protection of the increasingly crowded space environment. It is intended in part to counter the prevailing narrative about the 'inevitable' commercial development and exploitation of outer space. We welcome dialog and interaction with anyone interested in these topics.

💪🏼 I am proud to participate in this effort with my colleagues @salvabara, @planet4589, @sundogplanets and others.

🐘 Follow us on Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@space_environmentalism

🌎 And visit our website: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpacePolicy #Satellites #SpaceDebris

"During the conference launch, Joanne Wheeler, Director of ESSI, highlighted a crucial yet often overlooked aspect, namely: 'Space is part of our Earth’s ecosystem – our home,' and 'What we do in space is an extension of our life on Earth.'"

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/protecting-a-global-space-resource/

#Space #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris #OrbitalCrowding

"Having lots of new satellites potentially operating in VLEO is going to make for a complicated environment." (via @bbc_future)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250207-sky-skimmers-the-race-to-send-satellites-into-very-low-earth-orbits

#Space #Satellites #VLEO #SpaceSustainability #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #SpaceDebris

"[T]here is no concept of 'international crime' for pollution in outer space. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has discussed harm to future generations, and this could include the degradation of the space environment."

"Wheeler highlighted an example in Belgium where the law could be about to change. Article 96 of the new Belgian Criminal Code includes the crime of 'ecocide.' This relates to 'the intentional destruction of the natural environment, and this includes outer space. This is a really interesting concept,' Wheeler said."

https://www.satellitetoday.com/sustainability/2025/02/03/satellite-industry-talks-sustainability-but-what-will-it-take-to-bring-real-change/

#Space #Satellites #SpaceDebris #SpaceLaw #SpacePolicy #ICJ #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism #Ecocide

Here's a great explainer video on "the runaway debris threat to space technology" from the Financial Times.

https://channels.ft.com/en/tech/the-runaway-debris-threat-to-space-technology/

#Satellites #SpaceDebris #SpaceEnvironment #SpaceEnvironmentalism

"Currently, the UN recognizes 17 SDGs, introduced in 2015 to inspire global efforts to eliminate poverty, safeguard the #environment, and promote prosperity. However, the increasing presence of #satellites and other objects in Earth's orbit is prompting concerns about its future. Without coordinated international action, this once-pristine #SpaceEnvironment could face irreversible damage.

"In a study published in the journal One Earth, an international team of experts in fields ranging from satellite technology to ocean plastic pollution proposed the creation of an 18th #SDG dedicated to Earth's orbital environment."

https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/A_Sustainable_Development_Goal_for_Earths_Orbit_999.html

#SpaceDebris #SpaceEnvironmentalism

Hackaday Links: July 7, 2024 - Begun, the Spectrum Wars have. First, it was AM radio getting the shaft (last item... - https://hackaday.com/2024/07/07/hackaday-links-july-7-2024/ #hackadaycolumns #hackadaylinks #compressedgas #makersasylum #robotsuicide #spacedebris #switzerland #terrestrial #broadcast #submarine #cylinder #spectrum #analong #hotline #slider #mumbai #spacex #u-boot #anool #radio #am #fm

Hackaday Links: July 7, 2024 https://hackaday.com/2024/07/07/hackaday-links-july-7-2024/ #HackadayColumns #Hackadaylinks #CompressedGas #hackadaylinks #Maker'sAsylum #robotsuicide #spacedebris #Switzerland #terrestrial #broadcast #submarine #cylinder #spectrum #analong #hotline #Slider #Mumbai #SpaceX #u-boot #Anool #radio #am #fm

🇩🇪 German #SpaceAgency, #DLR

• #OroraTech is manufacturing eight micro-#satellites 🛰️ that will fly in formation to monitor forest 🌳🌲 fires 🔥 at one-hour intervals using infrared cameras.

• #TALOS is producing five micro-#satellites 🛰️ for tracking wildlife 🦌 and livestock 🐃 as part of the #ICARUS project.

• #PlanetaryTransportation Systems is producing three miniature #satellites 🛰️ for classifying and processing #Earth 🌍 observation 👀 data in #space using quantum technology.

• #RapidCubes uses four micro-#satellites 🛰️ to test bi-directional #DataCommunication for #InternetOfThings (#IOT) 📶 applications in species 🐻 and nature 🌿conservation.

• #Vyoma is launching a small #satellite 🛰️ for the optical monitoring of #SpaceDebris 🗑️ in the size range of a few centimetres 📏.

• #SmallSatellite Competition https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2023/04/small-satellites-winners-of-three-dlr-competitions-selected

The keyword hashtag list reached 5️⃣5️⃣ 55 entries :

#AsteroidMining
#AsteroidThreat
#CelestialBodyLanding
#DSOC (Deep Space Optical Communications)
#HallEffectThruster
#HumanSpaceflight
#HumanSpaceflightBasics
#HumanSpaceflightHealth
#HumanSpaceflightSecurity
#ISRU (in situ resource utilization)
#LaunchCost
#Lunar3dPrinting
#MoonMining
#PrivateSpaceflight
#ReusableLaunchVehicle
#RocketEngine
#RocketScience
#SatelliteImprovement
#SatelliteInternetAccess
#SBSP (Space-based Solar Power)
#SmallSat
#SpaceAgency
#SpaceCommunication
#SpaceCompany
#SpaceCraft
#SpaceColonization
#SpacecraftComparison
#SpacecraftPropulsion
#SpaceDebris
#SpaceEnergy
#SpaceEvent
#SpaceFood
#SpaceForce
#SpaceHabitat
#SpaceHotel
#SpaceIndustry
#SpaceInfrastructure
#SpaceLogistics
#SpaceMaintenance
#SpaceMining
#SpaceNavigation
#SpacePhotography
#SpacePlants
#SpacePolitics
#SpacePort
#SpaceRegulation
#SpaceRobot
#SpaceScience
#SpaceSciFi
#SpaceStation
#SpaceSuit
#SpaceTelescope
#SpaceTourism
#SpaceWelding
#TimeToOrbit