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Friday, December 9, 2022
Satellite data and signals provide crucial inputs for many economic activities, but Earth's orbit is becoming increasingly crowded. After polluting our planet, we are now polluting space. Thousands of pieces of debris from broken down satellites, rocket boosters and weapons tests that we’ve launched over the years have got stuck in orbit, creating clutter
According to the first chart, Russia is the most responsible for space junk with the US and China following. Last November, Russia blew up one of its old satellites using an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon, sending thousands of pieces of debris into orbit and risked hitting the International Space Station.
In 2020 and 2021, more satellites and space probes were launched into space than in the years 2010 to 2019 combined. As the second chart shows, the number increased rapidly after SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites into orbit.
Source: Statista (a), Statista (b)