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space debris
Sign in to saveAlso known as space junk, space litter, space trash, space waste, space garbage, space footprint
defunct artificial object or collection of such objects in space
Space debris consists of defunct artificial objects and fragments left behind in space, such as old satellites and spent rocket stages that are no longer in use. This matters because these objects travel at extremely high speeds and can collide with active satellites and spacecraft, potentially causing damage or creating even more debris.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
In the Vinony graph
Within Vinony's link graph, space debris is referenced by 4,548 other articles, and connects out to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, United States Space Surveillance Network and artificial satellite.
It sits within the topics Commons link is on Wikidata, Future problems and Global issues.
Its subject is documented across 62 Wikipedia language editions.
Wikidata facts
- Subclass of
- debris
- Image
- Space Junk - full mag.jpg
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- contributing factor of
- Kessler syndrome
- handled, mitigated, or managed by
- atmospheric entry
- Commons category
- Space debris
- topic's main category
- Category:Space debris
- Commons gallery
- Space debris
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
A drifting thermal blanket photographed in 1998 during STS-88
Environment portal
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “space debris” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Gallery (12)
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