Nearly half the objects orbiting Earth are ‘uncontrollable’ space junk — and jeopardize future space travel

NY Post ^ | 05/17/2026 | Alex Oliveira

[DFG]

Nearly half the manmade objects orbiting Earth are chunks of “uncontrollable” space junk — with just three countries fueling the problem and endangering future space travel, a shocking new study found.

At least 15,587 of the 33,269 tracked objects circling the planet are discarded debris from space launches — meaning a whopping 47% of the stuff hurtling around the planet is potentially hazardous junk, according to a May report from the engineering supply company Accu.

Those objects include at least 2,396 discarded rocket bodies — sometimes hundreds of feet across in length — 12,550 expended launch components which can vary in size and shape, and 641 objects which haven’t been classified.

The other 17,682 objects are “payloads” — satellites ranging from the likes of SpaceX’s StarLink networks to NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

But some of those payload satellites are out of commission, which only adds to the amount of junk orbiting Earth.

And most alarmingly, many of those bodies of heavy metal junk are whipping around the planet at nearly 20,000 mph every day — posing an enormous risk to other space missions, experts said.

“Nearly half of all tracked objects already fall into categories with no control or purpose,” wrote the Accu report, which collated data from the US Space Force’s Space-Track.org for its study.

“As a result, spacecraft must now be designed with greater tolerance to debris impacts and more robust shielding, as even a tiny fragment can destroy an entire mission,” the report said.

The warning is no exaggeration: In 2016, a fleck of paint or metal just a fraction of a millimeter across left a 7mm-long gouge in a window of the International Space Station.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! Most of the debris consists of pieces lost off things, including some screws that floated off during an ISS spacewalk, and I think a hand tool (custom made for the job, compatible with space suit gloves, and probably a bit pricey), and other small debris.

The current Starlink constellation is entirely operational and functional, with the defunct ones already having been safely deorbited. It would be great to do the same with those expended Zenit boosters as a start.

[ifinnegan]

First thing I thought of.

[sjmjax]

Thanks!
That’s the image that immediately came to mind.

Need to Elon on it.

[b4me]

I think space travel is a big waste of money.

[Mushinronshasan]

Time for Roger Wilco, Space Janitor!

[x]

Quark (1977): Created by Buck Henry (who also co-created Get Smart), this short-lived NBC sci-fi sitcom follows Commander Adam Quark and his dysfunctional crew aboard an interstellar garbage scow operating out of Space Station Perma One. The crew collects cosmic trash and bizarre objects while actively spoofing popular sci-fi franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Seems like there were a lot more shows about space garbage collectors.

[henbane]

You can search by satellite name or simply get lost roaming around the interactive Earth map. One thing that stands out is the more than 21,000 pieces of 'orbital debris' which "no longer serve a useful purpose".

Orbital debris ranges from derelict spacecraft to debris released during spacecraft separations from their launch vehicles or during mission operations.

[roving]

And yet you cannot see any of this junk from the “space station”.

[centermass_socrates]

He certainly has put a bunch up there. SpaceWeather.com has a section dedicated to tracking Starlink. It’s worth a peek.

[wildcard_redneck]

“I think space travel is a big waste of money.”

It is not. Modern telecommunications, spy satellites, scientific advancements more than compensate the cost. Elon Musk earns good money from space travel.

[Svartalfiar]

And most alarmingly, many of those bodies of heavy metal junk are whipping around the planet at nearly 20,000 mph every day — posing an enormous risk to other space missions, experts said.

Idiot experts, sure. If the junk went a bit faster, it wouldn't be orbiting the Earth anymore. If it went a bit slower, it would be hitting the Earth...

[Svartalfiar]

If all 21000 useless pieces of debris were on the Earth instead of in space, each one would have about 9360 sq mi to itself. That doesn’t include the larger ‘surface area’ from being further out, nor the various altitudes further separating the junk.

It’s the same as the real-life images of the asteroid belt vs people thinking they’re constantly bouncing off each other..

[Svartalfiar]

And yet you cannot see any of this junk from the “space station”.

The average distance from one space junk to another is something over 100 miles..

[Svartalfiar]

So somebody could put a large amount of small washers in orbit and cause havoc with all the satellite surveillance systems?

If by 'large amount' you mean tens to hundreds of thousands, maybe. You'd need a pretty fancy washer launcher to shoot them every which direction to slightly change their orbit from yours.. I'm talking a really big gun to significantly spread their orbits around, then yea, maybe. And by big gun, I mean shooting these washers at 2-3x faster than the Barrett .50 is firing at.

[cyclotic]

Most space junk follows a specific orbit so they know where the items are. My son flies satellites. He’s had to change orbit a few times to avoid getting hit.

[BFW]

OR they are a cleverly constructed barrier to keep aliens out....

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