{"id":440095,"date":"2024-05-13T03:22:26","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T01:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osr.org\/?p=440095"},"modified":"2024-06-03T15:32:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T13:32:45","slug":"space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Space exploration has been a fascinating field for many years, with astronomers making new discoveries and advancements every day. However, as we continue to push the boundaries of space technology, we are also creating a growing problem \u2013 space junk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Space junk, also known as space debris, poses a significant threat to operational satellites, crewed spacecraft, and, ultimately, the safety of <a href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/astronomy-uk\/did-ancient-astronauts-visit-the-dogon-people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">astronauts<\/a>. But as dangerous as it is for operations in Earth&#8217;s orbit, space junk also has the potential to massively impact our way of life here on Terra Firma.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">What Is Space Junk?<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/w_PWL0oZzOc?si=miCq2ERUNwFRklpu\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"Space Junk Around Earth\" title=\"Play video &quot;Space Junk Around Earth&quot;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/w_PWL0oZzOc?si=miCq2ERUNwFRklpu<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/w_PWL0oZzOc?si=miCq2ERUNwFRklpu\" title=\"Space Junk Around Earth\">Space Junk Around Earth (https:\/\/youtu.be\/w_PWL0oZzOc?si=miCq2ERUNwFRklpu)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Space junk, or space debris, consists of defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from disintegration, erosion, and collisions \u2014 all remnants of human activity beyond our atmosphere. This cosmic flotsam tells the tale of space exploration&#8217;s past glories and mishaps. But now, it poses a very real and growing threat to future missions and satellite integrity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine thousands of metallic fragments, each hurtling at speeds up to 17,500 miles per hour, capable of causing catastrophic damage to operational spacecraft and satellites. Even just a tiny piece of debris can wreak havoc. This scenario requires urgent attention and innovative solutions to ensure the safety and sustainability of space activities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The growing density of debris increases the likelihood of collisions, leading to a cascading effect known as the Kessler Syndrome, where the number of objects in low Earth orbit increases exponentially, making space exploration and satellite deployment increasingly hazardous.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">What Causes Space Debris?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially, space missions left behind hardware with little thought for the environmental impact. This included entire spent rocket stages, old satellites that have ceased operation, and even tools lost during spacewalks. However, collisions in space, whether accidental or through anti-satellite tests, significantly contribute to the problem by creating thousands of smaller, but no less dangerous, fragments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With every launch, the chance of a collision increases, not just among these fragments but also with active missions. Without addressing this pressing issue, the window for safely accessing and benefiting from outer space could shrink dramatically, impacting everything from global communication to weather forecasting and even a nation&#8217;s defence capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">A Brief History of Space Junk<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-440117 size-full\" title=\"History of Space Junk\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png\" alt=\"History of Space Junk\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk-640x393.png 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><p class=\"caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Strela-2M.jpg\">Rlandmann<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The accumulation of space debris has been a gradual process, exacerbated by incidents such as the deliberate destruction of the Chinese <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fengyun-1C<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> spacecraft in 2007 and the unfortunate <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collision between an American and a Russian spacecraft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2009. These events alone have bloated the large orbital debris population in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by roughly 70%. It&#8217;s a stark reminder of the lasting footprint of our ventures into the unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The United States Space Surveillance Network is tracking over 15,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 cm across, and they estimate there are over 200,000 pieces in the size bracket of 1 to 10 cm. However, the true horror lies in the potential millions of fragments less than 1 cm in size \u2014 each capable of inflicting catastrophic damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organisations dedicated to tracking and mitigating the risks posed by space debris are confronting this celestial conundrum. These entities keep a vigilant eye on debris by combining radar and optical techniques, calculating potential collision courses and devising strategies to avert disaster. However, as the adage goes, prevention is better than cure, and the importance of sustainable mission designs and actively removing debris present a way forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">How Does Space Junk Affect Us?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-440096\" title=\"Space Junk and GPS\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk-and-GPS.jpg\" alt=\"Space Junk and GPS\" width=\"758\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk-and-GPS.jpg 758w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk-and-GPS-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk-and-GPS-640x393.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the cosmos may seem boundless and unfettered, the orbit around our planet is becoming increasingly cluttered, posing a risk to spacecraft and astronauts and our way of life here on Earth. The prevalence of space junk impacts us in more ways than one might initially conceive. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For starters, satellite services, integral to modern-day conveniences such as GPS navigation, weather forecasting, and global communications, are in jeopardy. A single collision in space can set off a chain reaction, potentially disrupting these vital services and affecting everything from your daily commute to international banking transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, the increasing danger of space debris has escalated the costs associated with space missions. Each launch must now include considerations for debris avoidance manoeuvres or shielding. This makes space access more expensive and limits the ambitions of scientific and commercial space endeavours.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">What Can We Do About Space Debris?<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VQKpMmBDtZo?si=Ut4UWVmwnkYDfsox\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"How giant lasers could get rid of space trash\" title=\"Play video &quot;How giant lasers could get rid of space trash&quot;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/VQKpMmBDtZo?si=Ut4UWVmwnkYDfsox<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VQKpMmBDtZo?si=Ut4UWVmwnkYDfsox\" title=\"How giant lasers could get rid of space trash\">How giant lasers could get rid of space trash (https:\/\/youtu.be\/VQKpMmBDtZo?si=Ut4UWVmwnkYDfsox)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the onslaught of mega-constellations and the looming threat of the Kessler Syndrome, the need for sustainable space exploration has never been clearer. The cost and complexity of removing space debris, coupled with the projected increase in orbital traffic, underscore the urgency of our predicament.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addressing the complex challenge of space debris requires a multi-faceted approach, blending innovation with cooperation. The first step is clearly to minimise the generation of new debris. This can be achieved through designing spacecraft and missions with sustainability in mind, such as ensuring satellites are deorbited at the end of their operational lives or boosting them to a &#8220;graveyard&#8221; orbit. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another proactive measure is the development and deployment of debris removal technologies. Initiatives like net capture, harpoons, and laser brooms are not just the stuff of science fiction but are becoming tangible solutions that could cleanse our orbits of hazardous fragments. These technologies, however, require significant investment in research and development, not to mention global collaboration. Space is a shared domain, and the consequences of debris impact are blind to national borders.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #15acdf;\">Star Finder App<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-240300\" title=\"OSR Star Finder App\" src=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OSR-Star-Finder-App.jpg\" alt=\"OSR Star Finder App\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OSR-Star-Finder-App.jpg 720w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OSR-Star-Finder-App-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/OSR-Star-Finder-App-640x427.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our ventures into space reflect our bold aspirations and quest for knowledge. Yet, the growing issue of space junk reminds us of our responsibility toward safeguarding space. The problem challenges us to confront the long-term implications of our space-faring actions, ensuring that the final frontier remains a beacon of hope and discovery, not a cluttered remnant of past exploits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To truly appreciate the magnificence of space and the imperative of keeping it clean, we invite you on a celestial adventure like no other. Embark on a stellar discovery with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/blog\/osr-en\/star-finder-app\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSR Star Finder App<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, your gateway to the stars. Unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, identify constellations, and locate your own named star!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button button-orange medium arrow\" href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/blog\/osr-en\/star-finder-app\/\">OSR Star Finder App<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Space exploration has been a fascinating field for many years, with astronomers making new discoveries and advancements every day. However, as we continue to push the boundaries of space technology, we are also creating a growing problem \u2013 space junk. Space junk, also known as space debris, poses a significant threat to operational satellites, crewed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1297],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-440095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-osrguide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration - Online Star Register<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this article, we&#039;ll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this article, we&#039;ll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Online Star Register\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"758\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"466\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sebastian Wolf\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"In this article, we&#039;ll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sebastian Wolf\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"Sebastian Wolf\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 1021,\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"OSR Guide\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-UK\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration - Online Star Register\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"description\": \"In this article, we'll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-UK\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-UK\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"OSR Guide\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/osrguide\/\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Online Star Register\",\n\t            \"description\": \"\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-UK\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Sebastian Wolf\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Sebastian Wolf is an experienced writer and editor. His obsession with astronomy began at a young age when he was introduced to the marvels of the universe while watching reruns of Carl Sagan\u2019s Cosmos: A Personal Voyage before being awestruck by the 1997 visit of the Hale-Bopp comet. Ever since, he has taken every opportunity to study, witness, and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. Having contributed articles to the OSR Blog since 2022, he relishes the chance to promote the joys of astronomy and share his love of the cosmos. \u201cSomewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.\u201d \u2013 Sharon Begley.\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/author\/sebastian-wolf\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration - Online Star Register","description":"In this article, we'll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration","og_description":"In this article, we'll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.","og_url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/","og_site_name":"Online Star Register","article_published_time":"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00","og_image":[{"width":758,"height":466,"url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sebastian Wolf","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration","twitter_description":"In this article, we'll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Space-Junk.jpg","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sebastian Wolf","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/"},"author":{"name":"Sebastian Wolf","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348"},"headline":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration","datePublished":"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/"},"wordCount":1021,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png","articleSection":["OSR Guide"],"inLanguage":"en-UK"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/","url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/","name":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration - Online Star Register","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png","datePublished":"2024-05-13T01:22:26+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-03T13:32:45+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348"},"description":"In this article, we'll examine the causes and consequences of space junk and explore the growing need for effective solutions to the problem.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-UK","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-UK","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/osr.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/History-of-Space-Junk.png"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/osrguide\/space-junk-an-increasing-threat-to-space-exploration\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"OSR Guide","item":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/osrguide\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Space Junk: An Increasing Threat to Space Exploration"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/","name":"Online Star Register","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-UK"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64c4e8743579b229f87b1d3de0090348","name":"Sebastian Wolf","description":"Sebastian Wolf is an experienced writer and editor. His obsession with astronomy began at a young age when he was introduced to the marvels of the universe while watching reruns of Carl Sagan\u2019s Cosmos: A Personal Voyage before being awestruck by the 1997 visit of the Hale-Bopp comet. Ever since, he has taken every opportunity to study, witness, and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. Having contributed articles to the OSR Blog since 2022, he relishes the chance to promote the joys of astronomy and share his love of the cosmos. \u201cSomewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.\u201d \u2013 Sharon Begley.","url":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/author\/sebastian-wolf\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=440095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":516777,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440095\/revisions\/516777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}