To the Point
Quantity of Space Junk Reaches 'Tipping Point'
In 2009, two satellites — one left over from the Soviet era and another important to current communications — crashed into each other. The result was 1700 pieces of space debris big enough to track from the Earth, so much that NASA is studying cosmic nets, magnets and giant umbrellas to protect satellites and allow for new travel in space.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readIn 2009, two satellites — one left over from the Soviet era and another important to current communications — crashed into each other. The result was 1700 pieces of space debris big enough to track from the Earth, so much that NASA is studying cosmic nets, magnets and giant umbrellas to protect satellites and allow for new travel in space. What will it take to retain control of that environment? Ian O'Neill is space science producer for Discovery News.
