Latest News About Space Junk and Orbital Debris

Latest about space junk

The two stages of SpaceX's Starship megarocket separate during the vehicle's seventh test flight on Jan. 16, 2025.
SpaceX Starship explosion likely caused by propellant leak, Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall Published

SpaceX has traced the likely cause of the explosion that destroyed its Starship vehicle during its Jan. 16 test flight to a leak of liquid oxygen or liquid methane.

Private Spaceflight
Earth as seen from the upper stage of SpaceX's seventh Starship vehicle during its test flight on Jan. 16, 2025. The vehicle suffered an anomaly and exploded in Earth's atmosphere around 8.5 minutes after launch.
Watch SpaceX Starship explode over Atlantic Ocean on Flight Test 7 (videos)

By Brett Tingley, Mike Wall Published

The upper stage of SpaceX's Starship megarocket exploded over the Atlantic Ocean during the vehicle's Flight 7 test today (Jan. 16), and lots of people saw the sky show.

Private Spaceflight
Three small cubesats, including the wooden LignoSat, deploy from the International Space Station. NASA posted this photo via X on Dec. 13, 2024.
World's 1st wooden satellite deploys from ISS to demonstrate cleaner spacecraft tech (photo)

By Tereza Pultarova Published

LignoSat's six-month mission will demonstrate whether wood could help reduce the environmental impact of spaceflight in the future.

Satellites
A large piece of round metal stands next to a tall man in a wooded area. Onlookers look from a distance.
Space debris crash in Kenya village believed to be from leftover rocket hardware

By Leonard David Published

Kenya Space Agency officials report a large, “red-hot” metallic ring roughly 8 feet (2.5 meters) in diameter fell from the sky, crashing into Mukuku village.

Satellites
A piece of Chinese satellite space junk breaks apart in the night sky as a fireball in this video still image captured by Luke Matheson in Rison, Arkansas on Dec. 21, 2024.
See a dead Chinese satellite burn up as a brilliant fireball in the night sky (video)

By Tariq Malik Published

The satellite was one of China's first-ever commercial Earth imaging satellites. RIP, SuperView 1-02.

Stargazing
Artist's illustration of space junk orbiting Earth.
'Tragedy of the commons' in space: We need to act now to prevent an orbital debris crisis, scientists say

By Mike Wall Published

Humanity needs to address the growing space junk problem now, before it gets completely out of hand, scientists stress.

Satellites
A bright streak tears across the night sky as a burning fireball and tail. A palm tree stands from the bottom center.
Seismometers track atmospheric shock waves from incoming space debris

By Farah Aziz Annesha Published

Seismometers Track Atmospheric Shock Waves from Incoming Space Debris

Space Exploration
This mosaic depicts the International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021.
Will the International Space Station's 2031 death dive cause pollution problems?

By Leonard David Published

The International Space Station will be steered to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere in 2031, if all goes to plan. Should we be worried about the pollution this death dive will cause?

International Space Station
14 of the biggest spacecraft ever to fall from space

By Mike Wall last updated

A rundown of some of the biggest spacecraft to smash into Earth beyond their operators' control.

Launches & Spacecraft
view of the international space station through the window of a departing spacecraft
International Space Station dodges 2nd piece of space junk in 6 days

By Mike Wall Published

A Russian Progress freighter docked to the ISS fired its thrusters Monday (Nov. 25) to dodge a piece of debris, the second such evasive maneuver for the orbiting lab in less than a week.

International Space Station
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