Kosmosejäätmed

Kosmosejäätmed, also known as space debris or orbital debris, refers to man-made objects in orbit around Earth that are no longer functional. This includes spent rocket stages, defunct satellites, fragments from collisions and explosions, and even small particles like flecks of paint. The vast majority of these objects are in low Earth orbit, though they can be found in various orbital paths.

The accumulation of kosmosejäätmed poses a significant and growing threat to active satellites, crewed spacecraft, and future space missions. As the number of objects in orbit increases, so does the probability of collisions. Even small pieces of debris traveling at orbital velocities can cause catastrophic damage to operational spacecraft due to their immense kinetic energy. This risk is often referred to as the Kessler Syndrome, a scenario where the density of debris in orbit becomes so high that cascading collisions create an unmanageable debris field, rendering certain orbits unusable.

Several organizations and countries are actively tracking space debris and developing strategies to mitigate its growth. These strategies include designing satellites with deorbiting capabilities, removing larger defunct objects from orbit, and developing technologies to actively clear smaller debris. International cooperation is crucial in addressing this global challenge, as space is a shared resource. Understanding and managing kosmosejäätmed is essential for the sustainable use of space for scientific, commercial, and security purposes.