avaruusroskaille

Avaruusroska, also known as space debris or orbital debris, refers to discarded human-made objects in Earth's orbit. This includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from explosions or collisions, and even tiny flecks of paint or coolant. The vast majority of this debris is located in low Earth orbit, where many operational satellites and the International Space Station reside.

The increasing amount of avaruusroska poses a significant threat to active spacecraft, including satellites essential for communication, navigation, and weather forecasting. A collision with even a small piece of debris at orbital velocities can cause catastrophic damage. This risk is amplified by the Kessler Syndrome, a theoretical scenario where the density of debris in orbit becomes so high that collisions generate more debris, leading to a cascading effect that could render certain orbits unusable.

Tracking and managing avaruusroska is a global concern. Various space agencies and organizations monitor known debris objects and develop strategies to mitigate future pollution. These strategies include designing satellites for de-orbiting at the end of their mission, avoiding the creation of new debris, and exploring methods for active debris removal. International cooperation is crucial to address this growing environmental challenge in space.