Millions of debris pieces orbit Earth. How can they pose a threat to humans?

In low Earth orbit, in addition to natural formations, tons of space debris accumulate — remnants of old satellites, rocket parts, fragments of spacecraft, and even lost astronaut tools.

According to estimates from the European Space Agency (ESA), the number of objects larger than 10 cm exceeds 40,500, while smaller fragments number in the hundreds of millions. Space debris travels at speeds of up to 28,000 km/h, turning even small objects into dangerous projectiles. While it does not pose a direct threat to Earth, as it burns up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, it can still cause considerable issues.

These fragments are too small to be tracked by ground-based radars. They pose risks to operational satellites, space stations, and even future missions — even a tiny piece can damage a rocket. In 2021, a rocket fragment forced the ISS to perform an emergency maneuver to avoid a collision.

If the problem remains unaddressed, orbit may become unusable due to the Kessler effect — a cascading increase in debris resulting from collisions. This could paralyze the operation of satellites that provide communication, navigation, weather forecasting, and other essential functions.

As forecasts indicate that more than 100,000 new spacecraft may be launched by 2030, preventive measures to avoid further debris generation and to remove existing debris are essential for safety in orbit. Scientists are developing technologies for orbital cleanup: nets, harpoons, lasers, and robotic grabbers; however, a practical working solution has yet to be realized.

Previously, "Telegraph" reported that a meteor shower of Geminids is passing by Earth. This is the last meteor shower of 2024.