avaruusjäten

Avaruusjäte, also known as space debris or space junk, refers to man-made objects in orbit around Earth that no longer serve a useful purpose. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from explosions or collisions, and even small items like paint flecks shed from spacecraft. The vast majority of space debris is found in low Earth orbit (LEO), though some also exists in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO).

The concern surrounding space debris stems from its potential to collide with active satellites and crewed spacecraft. Even small pieces of debris traveling at orbital velocities can cause significant damage due to their immense kinetic energy. This poses a risk to space missions, the International Space Station (ISS), and future space exploration endeavors. A collision could disable or destroy a functioning satellite, leading to financial losses and disruption of essential services that rely on them, such as communication, navigation, and weather monitoring.

Tracking and cataloging space debris is a critical aspect of space situational awareness. Various agencies and organizations monitor the orbits of known debris objects to predict potential collisions. Mitigation strategies are also being developed and implemented. These include designing satellites and rockets to minimize debris generation during launch and operation, de-orbiting defunct satellites at the end of their mission, and exploring technologies for active debris removal. The growing amount of space debris is a significant challenge for the sustainable use of outer space.