Read a passage about the problem of space junk.
Cleaning Up the Skies
Since the beginning of the space age in the 1950s, thousands of
rockets and satellites have been launched into space.
rockets and satellites have been launched into space.
Most have
functioned as they were designed to, but over time, some machines
have broken down and remain floating around in space because they
are difficult to bring back.
functioned as they were designed to, but over time, some machines
have broken down and remain floating around in space because they
are difficult to bring back.
Dead satellites, used rocket parts, and small
pieces of dirt are in orbit.
pieces of dirt are in orbit.
Those objects left unattended in space are
collectively referred to as space junk.
collectively referred to as space junk.
The presence of space junk
significantly increases risks to space activities and the safety of
astronauts.
significantly increases risks to space activities and the safety of
astronauts.
For example, small pieces of junk might not seem like a big
issue, but they move at 6.7 kilometers per second.
issue, but they move at 6.7 kilometers per second.
At that speed, even a
small piece of metal can seriously harm satellites that provide services
across the world.
small piece of metal can seriously harm satellites that provide services
across the world.
In addition, each crash has the potential to generate
more space junk.
more space junk.
Without active efforts to remove the junk, traveling in
space would be extremely dangerous.
space would be extremely dangerous.

