Orbital Debris
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Massive Boulders Ejected by DART Mission Could Complicate Future Asteroid Deflection
NASA’s DART mission successfully deflected an asteroid but also unleashed high-velocity boulders with unexpected momentum. These chaotic ejecta may alter asteroid spin and orbit, complicating future deflection strategies. A new study highlights the importance of accounting for such forces in planetary defence. ESA’s Hera mission will further in...
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NASA and ISRO Confirm Japan’s Moon Lander Resilience Crashed at Mare Frigoris
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and India’s Chandrayaan-2 have captured images confirming the crash of Japan’s Resilience lander on the Moon’s Mare Frigoris. Contact with the lander was lost 100 seconds before its June 5 touchdown. New photos reveal a dark impact mark and scattered debris.
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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
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'City-Killer' Asteroid May Hit Moon, Hurl Deadly Debris Toward Earth
Asteroid 2024 YR4 might collide with the Moon in 2031, with a 4.3% chance of impact, according to NASA's updated calculations.
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As Satellite Numbers Soar, Experts Warn Earth's Space May Soon Hit Its Limit
Experts predict that the number of active satellites could climb to 100,000 before stabilising.
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NASA's James Webb Telescope Spots Frozen Water In Distant Star System For The First Time
Crystalline water ice has been found in a dusty debris disk that orbits a Sun-like star, only 23 million years old, 155 light-years away.
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Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit
Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...
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Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries
In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...
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Cold War-Era Soviet Spacecraft Expected To Crash Back To Earth In May 2025
A 50-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, is set to crash back to Earth in May 2025, with its fate uncertain, sparking concerns about potential damage or impact.
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ISRO's POEM-4 Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere
The safe re-entry of POEM-4 is yet another accomplishment of ISRO's commitment to containing the growth of space debris.
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Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn
Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...
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Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
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NASA's Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS: Report
NASA’s Astrobee robot tested its REACCH system aboard the ISS, demonstrating advanced robotic arms inspired by gecko adhesion for satellite servicing and space debris management. Astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 72 Commander, participated in the demonstration inside the Kibo module, mimicking the robot’s flexible arms. The technology aims ...
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Space Junk Crisis: Experts Call for Immediate Action to Avoid Orbital Disaster
Rising space debris in low Earth orbit is raising concerns among scientists, who warn of potential catastrophic collisions. Experts at the AGU meeting highlighted that unregulated satellite launches and growing orbital debris are depleting shared space resources. Urgent global efforts are needed to prevent the Kessler syndrome, which could make Ear...
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More Than 14,000 Satellites, 120 Million Pieces Of Debris Jamming Earth Orbit
The rapid increase in satellites and space junk will make low Earth orbit unusable unless companies and countries cooperate and share the data needed to manage that most accessible region of space, experts and industry insiders said.
-
Massive Boulders Ejected by DART Mission Could Complicate Future Asteroid Deflection
NASA’s DART mission successfully deflected an asteroid but also unleashed high-velocity boulders with unexpected momentum. These chaotic ejecta may alter asteroid spin and orbit, complicating future deflection strategies. A new study highlights the importance of accounting for such forces in planetary defence. ESA’s Hera mission will further in...
-
NASA and ISRO Confirm Japan’s Moon Lander Resilience Crashed at Mare Frigoris
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and India’s Chandrayaan-2 have captured images confirming the crash of Japan’s Resilience lander on the Moon’s Mare Frigoris. Contact with the lander was lost 100 seconds before its June 5 touchdown. New photos reveal a dark impact mark and scattered debris.
-
Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Re-enters Earth’s Atmosphere After 52 Years, Location Unclear
A failed Soviet Venus probe from 1972 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in May, yet tracking its final descent baffled experts. Despite decades of observation, differing models and unpredictable atmospheric conditions prevented precise predictions. Scientists now see Kosmos-482 as a case study in the enduring challenges of satellite reentry and the n...
-
'City-Killer' Asteroid May Hit Moon, Hurl Deadly Debris Toward Earth
Asteroid 2024 YR4 might collide with the Moon in 2031, with a 4.3% chance of impact, according to NASA's updated calculations.
-
As Satellite Numbers Soar, Experts Warn Earth's Space May Soon Hit Its Limit
Experts predict that the number of active satellites could climb to 100,000 before stabilising.
-
NASA's James Webb Telescope Spots Frozen Water In Distant Star System For The First Time
Crystalline water ice has been found in a dusty debris disk that orbits a Sun-like star, only 23 million years old, 155 light-years away.
-
Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit
Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...
-
Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries
In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...
-
Cold War-Era Soviet Spacecraft Expected To Crash Back To Earth In May 2025
A 50-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, is set to crash back to Earth in May 2025, with its fate uncertain, sparking concerns about potential damage or impact.
-
ISRO's POEM-4 Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere
The safe re-entry of POEM-4 is yet another accomplishment of ISRO's commitment to containing the growth of space debris.
-
Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn
Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...
-
Rocket Lab Delays IoT Satellite Launch to Ensure Safe Trajectory in Space
Rocket Lab has postponed its "IOT 4 You and Me" mission to avoid potential collisions with satellites and the International Space Station. This mission, set to deploy five IoT satellites, marks Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025. The company is taking extra precautions to monitor space traffic and ensure the rocket follows a safe trajectory. The sat...
-
NASA's Astronaut Sunita Williams Poses with Tentacle-Armed Astrobee Robot on ISS: Report
NASA’s Astrobee robot tested its REACCH system aboard the ISS, demonstrating advanced robotic arms inspired by gecko adhesion for satellite servicing and space debris management. Astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 72 Commander, participated in the demonstration inside the Kibo module, mimicking the robot’s flexible arms. The technology aims ...
-
Space Junk Crisis: Experts Call for Immediate Action to Avoid Orbital Disaster
Rising space debris in low Earth orbit is raising concerns among scientists, who warn of potential catastrophic collisions. Experts at the AGU meeting highlighted that unregulated satellite launches and growing orbital debris are depleting shared space resources. Urgent global efforts are needed to prevent the Kessler syndrome, which could make Ear...
-
More Than 14,000 Satellites, 120 Million Pieces Of Debris Jamming Earth Orbit
The rapid increase in satellites and space junk will make low Earth orbit unusable unless companies and countries cooperate and share the data needed to manage that most accessible region of space, experts and industry insiders said.
