The space age began on October 4, 1957 when the Soviets successfully launched the first artificial satellite, the Sputnik I, into space. Since that day 51 years ago over 25,000 man-made objects have been launched into space; around 8600 are currently in Earth’s orbit while there are another 16,000 in various states of decay.

So what happens when we leave our garbage to simply orbit the Earth? Space junk happens. Current estimates put the amount of garbage currently orbiting the Earth in the realm of a combined 2200 tons, all of it flying around our planet at incredible speeds. The following map gives you a good indication of the amount of space junk surrounding us and where it came from:

1. Russian space debris
2. Geosynchronous satellites
3. Various junk from scientific missions
4. Global space junk (except Russia)
5. Junk expected to reenter Earth’s orbit soon

Despite the fact that we can’t see it and most of us have no idea it exists, as the maps shows, there is actually a tremendous amount of leftover junk in our orbit just waiting to fall.

Should We Worry?

The danger lies more with the shuttles and satellites that regularly leave Earth on further missions to the International Space Station and beyond; one recorded impact between a space shuttle and a particle of space debris only one tenth of a millimeter wide resulted in a cracked window in the shuttle. Cosmologists have learned to time the launch of a shuttle or satellite to coincide with breaks in the space junk in our orbit, allowing missions to take place with little or no danger from the debris.

The danger to us here on Earth is, surprisingly, nearly non-existent. Space junk does fall back into orbit on a regular basis, but the extreme speed and temperatures involved in re-entering our planet’s orbit cause the debris to burn into nothingness. There are some exceptions to this rule, including an artificial satellite the size of a large bus that is currently speeding towards Earth while carrying over 1,000 pounds of toxic fuel. Scientists all over the world are currently devising a plan to shoot the satellite down before it enters Earth’s orbit.

A few more local space maps with space junk simulation in a few for your reference:

Popularity: 3% [?]