Show threadjoe•iuculano 22h ago

@copter_chief

In a few years, when enough #satellites are launched up into #Earth orbit, we won't be able to peer out into the #universe, nor will the #extraterrestrials be able to see us either. *shrug*

#satire #Science #pollution #SpaceJunk #environment

💧🌏 Greg Cocks2d ago
‘This Feels Fragile’ - How A Satellite-Smashing Chain Reaction Could Spiral Out Of Control [space junk]
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Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially
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https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control <-- shared interactive technical/media article, with outstanding visualisations
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https://www.space-track.org/ | https://celestrak.org/ | https://planet4589.org/space/stats/ <-- various satellite tracking efforts
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#spacejunk #spacedebris #visualisation #spatialanalysis #orbit #spatiotemporal #satellite #fragments #history #Sputnik #risk #hazard #mitigation #deorbiting #reentry #orbitallanes #military #communication #weather #remotesensing #astronomy #earthobservation #lightpollution #orbitaltraffic #collision #debris #usecase #logistics #crowded #coordination #planning #tracking #technology
@TheGuardian
Mike K3LOE3d ago

"It would only be a matter of time before a SpaceX orbital data center exploded, spraying debris into neighboring data centers and triggering a chain reaction."

https://www.jalopnik.com/2136971/starlink-satellite-explodes-orbit/

#satellites #space #spacex #DataCenters #starlink #spacejunk

Starlink Satellite Explodes In Orbit, Yet Another Moment Of SpaceX Engineering Excellence

There are roughly 10,000 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, over a third of all the tracked objects in that part of space.

Jalopnik
Carolannie3d ago
Privatization certainly has increased the fragility and complexity of our satellite systems
#SpaceJunk
https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control
‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of control

Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially

The Guardian
Grahame Gardner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿3d ago

'Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially'
I love these Grauniad infographic reports, but this is getting really scary.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/ng-interactive/2026/mar/31/this-feels-fragile-how-a-satellite-smashing-chain-reaction-could-spiral-out-of-control

#SpaceJunk #Satellites #Space

‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of control

Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially

The Guardian
Where are we now?Mar 24

A WEEK IN ORBITAL HOARDING
13/2026

🌐️ CATALOGED OBJECTS IN ORBIT: 33,262 (+36)
🛰 Active spacecraft: 15,229 (+63)
💤 Nonoperational spacecraft: 3,008
🚀 Rocket bodies: 2,398
❓ Unknown objects: 60
🗑️ Debris >10 cm: 12,567 (-27)

48 cataloged objects were officially confirmed as reentered since the last update.

#Orbit #Satcat #Satellite #SpaceDebris #SpaceJunk #OrbitalHoarding

BGDon 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 👨‍💻Mar 23

Clean up on aisle 7! Interesting idea - who will pay the bill?

US based Portal Space Systems and Australian startup Paladin Space are combing forces to create and launch a scalable, commercial space debris clean-up service.

Paladin’s supplies their Triton debris identification and capture system with Portal provides its maneuverable Starburst spacecraft. Target launch = Q2 2027. https://www.inc.com/chloe-aiello/these-two-startups-are-teaming-up-to-prevent-a-pearl-harbor-moment-in-space/91318935

#Portal #Paladin #Triton #Space #SpaceJunk #LEO #Starburst #SpaceCraft #SpaceDebris

AI6YR BenMar 22
How much do you want to bet "meteorite into Houston" is "melted chunk o' Starlink"? 🤪 (Update: apparently not with that trajectory) #meteorite #spacejunk
Show threadPeter RileyMar 20

@sundogplanets
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-21/space-junk-satellites-low-orbit/106468774

#Satellites #Spacejunk

Earth's low orbit is becoming cluttered with high-velocity space junk

Thousands of satellites are being launched into space at low Earth orbit, joining hundreds of thousands of pieces of space junk, and it's becoming a real problem.

AJ SadauskasMar 20
What could possibly go wrong?

(A sidenote: Wouldn't it be ironic if a Kessler Syndrome event involving Elon Musk's Starlink satellites ended up being the reason humans never reach Mars?)

From the ABC:

"Starlink is an internet satellite constellation of about 9,600 small spacecraft in low orbit around the Earth.

"They represent little more than half of active satellites but a mere fraction of artificial objects now circling the globe.

"Space above the Earth is filling with clutter.

"Computer scientist and space junk enthusiast Mars Buttfield-Addison says there are about 33,000 objects large enough to be individually identified from the Earth's surface.

"That doesn't account for debris too small to be seen or observed using telescopes and ground-based radar.

"Ms Buttfield-Addison, who is completing a PhD at the University of Tasmania focused on tracking space debris, said about 17,500 satellites have been put into orbit since 1957 and more than two-thirds of those (about 12,000) have been launched in the past six years.

"However, the overall number of individual pieces of space junk is unknown."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-21/space-junk-satellites-low-orbit/106468774

#space #spacejunk
Earth's low orbit is becoming cluttered with high-velocity space junk

Thousands of satellites are being launched into space at low Earth orbit, joining hundreds of thousands of pieces of space junk, and it's becoming a real problem.