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Hilal Kids English

Turning Space into Trash

January 2025

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s out there? Stars, planets, and even astronauts exploring space — how exciting! But did you know that humans have also left a lot of trash floating in space? This space trash, or debris, comes from broken satellites, old rockets, and other equipment sent to explore the universe. Right now, thousands of pieces of junk are zooming around the earth at super-fast speeds. This isn’t just messy, it can be dangerous for astronauts, satellites, and even us here on earth!



The world today is grappling with the dire consequences of pollution and climate change. These issues have become central to global discussions, with every corner of the planet experiencing the harsh impacts of environmental shifts. While land, air, and water pollution are commonly discussed, have you ever heard of “space pollution”?  
This relatively new form of pollution emerged with humanity’s increasing activities in space. As the race for space exploration intensifies, the amount of debris left by humans in outer space is growing alarmingly fast.  Currently, most space junk is found in low earth orbit, roughly 250 miles above the planet’s surface. It is estimated that about 9.4 tons of space debris, including defunct satellites and parts of rockets, are orbiting earth at speeds exceeding 17,500 miles per hour. These fragments range from large, uncontrollable objects to tiny pieces that can still pose a serious threat.  
The problem of space debris began with humanity’s first ventures into space. Over time, failed satellites, discarded rocket parts, and broken equipment have added to the clutter. Some objects are in geostationary orbits at a staggering altitude of 22,300 miles, sent there for specific purposes but now left abandoned. Though earth’s gravitational pull eventually draws some debris back, most of it burns up upon reentry due to friction with the atmosphere. However, not all remnants are safely destroyed; larger objects may survive reentry, breaking into smaller pieces and landing in oceans or remote areas. For instance, in April 2018, China's Tiangong-1 space station fell to earth, burning up before splashing into the ocean.  
Countries Leading in Space Pollution
Russia tops the list of space polluters, with over 6,500 objects floating in orbit, many of which are uncontrollable remnants of old missions. America follows closely, with over 6,200 objects, of which more than 4,600 are out of control. Despite having a relatively young space program, China ranks third, with over 3,600 objects in orbit, including debris from a satellite it deliberately destroyed in 2007. This growing problem has given rise to the “Kessler Syndrome”, a term coined by NASA scientist Donald Kessler. In 1978, Kessler warned that the increasing density of space debris could trigger a cascade effect, where collisions create even more debris, leading to a situation where space travel becomes nearly impossible. Kessler’s prediction came true in 2009 when two satellites, Iridium and Cosmos, collided 500 miles above Siberia, breaking into over 2,100 pieces. While most debris burned up upon reentry, the collision created a new layer of space junk, threatening other satellites.  
How to Tackle Space Pollution?
After the Iridium-Cosmos collision, the American armed forces launched the Space Surveillance Network program to monitor satellites and predict potential collisions. By 2010, advanced technology was integrated into this program to track over 3,700 satellites and their debris. Despite these efforts, space pollution remains a growing threat. Experts record an average of 75 near-miss incidents every day, excluding smaller debris that is harder to monitor. Just as earth is choking on plastic and other pollutants, space too is becoming a victim of humanity’s negligence. If left unchecked, space pollution could not only hinder future space exploration but also pose serious risks to life on earth. It’s time to address this invisible yet critical problem before it spirals out of control.