space debris

Experts including former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe warn that while a person is still more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space debris, the risk is growing as launches multiply. They argue governments and companies should be required to use materials that fully burn up on reentry, amid calls for space environmentalism.

The Council of the European Union has moved to strengthen the EU's architecture for responding to threats in space. The step is part of broader European efforts to protect satellites and space infrastructure that underpin communications, navigation and security. The announcement comes as concerns grow over anti-satellite weapons, space debris and the vulnerability of critical orbital assets.

An American spy satellite dating from the Cold War era has broken apart or exploded in orbit above Earth, and the cause remains unknown. The incident raises questions about growing amounts of space debris and the reliability of aging military hardware still circling the planet decades after launch. Experts are watching for possible collision risks to other satellites.

A retired US spy satellite has reportedly exploded in orbit above Earth, with officials so far offering little explanation for the incident. The mysterious breakup of the defunct spacecraft is drawing attention because of possible debris risks to other satellites and questions about whether the cause was a mechanical failure, collision or something else.

A declassified Cold War-era US spy satellite has fragmented in orbit, creating a debris field in space. The satellite, reportedly nicknamed after actress Farrah Fawcett, broke apart decades after its original mission. Space watchers are discussing the incident and what it means for the growing orbital debris problem around Earth.

A decommissioned American Cold War-era reconnaissance satellite, reportedly nicknamed after actress Farrah Fawcett, has broken apart in orbit, adding new debris to Earth's crowded orbital environment. The fragmentation raises fresh concerns about collision risks for active satellites and crewed spacecraft, and about the long-term problem of space debris left by decades of military launches.

NASA has announced the award of a contract for Orbital Safety Analysis Support Services, covering work to assess and help prevent hazards from objects and debris in orbit around Earth. The announcement was released through NASA's official newsroom, and reaction so far has been limited to modest sharing of the release within space and science communities. Details on the contractor, contract value and duration are not specified in the available information.

A spent stage from a SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon and expected to impact its far side in the coming days. The object has been drifting through space for years and cannot be steered. Scientists say the crash should throw up a plume of debris that telescopes may be able to observe, offering a rare chance to study the lunar subsurface.

The European Union is broadening its approach to threats in space, stepping up measures to protect member states from growing risks to satellites and space-based infrastructure. The move comes as concerns rise over debris, cyber attacks and hostile interference affecting services that depend on space assets. Details of the expanded response remain limited in early reporting.

Samples that NASA brought back to Earth from the asteroid Bennu show the space rock is something of a 'Frankenstein', combining materials that formed at opposite ends of the Solar System. The findings, reported by Xataka, suggest Bennu's parent body gathered debris from very different regions before breaking apart, offering new clues about how the early Solar System mixed its building blocks.

The European Space Agency has published a guide explaining its Zero Debris Charter, an initiative aimed at tackling the growing problem of space junk in Earth's orbit. The charter outlines commitments for space actors to minimise debris creation and support debris mitigation practices. As satellite launches multiply, the ESA's effort to rally international signatories around cleaner orbital operations is drawing attention across the space sector.

Signatories of the Artemis Accords are set to meet to address how to manage debris on the Moon and how established space powers can assist countries with emerging space programs. The talks reflect growing operational activity around lunar missions and the need for shared norms as more nations participate in NASA-led exploration efforts.