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What Is Space Junk And Why Is It A Problem?

A new study suggests there's a 10 percent chance someone will be killed by falling space junk in the next decade. But there are steps space agencies can take to lower that risk.

Emilie Lucchesi
ByEmilie Le Beau Lucchesi
Credit: Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock

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It sounds like something out of a cartoon. A chunk of metal separates from a rocket or satellite, reenters the atmosphere, and then plummets to Earth. It strikes whatever happens to be in its path — whether open water, a grassy prairie, or a city bus.

The idea seems outlandish, but space debris is a growing problem. In late July 2022, a booster for China’s Long March 5B rocket reentered the atmosphere and crashed into the Sulu Sea near the Philippines. And China isn’t alone when it comes to producing potentially hazardous space junk.

The unceasing global proliferation of satellites means there are now more human-made objects in space than ever before. And new research predicts there is a concerning chance someone could be killed by falling space debris in the next decade.

Outer space is swimming in junk: There are hundreds of thousands of teeny objects smaller than 0.4 ...

  • Emilie Lucchesi

    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi

    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Ph.D., is a freelance journalist who regularly contributes to Discover Magazine. She reports on the social sciences, medical history, and new scientific discoveries.

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