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Impacts of space junk
from Space Junk
by Sama Harris
Most space junk is located in what is known as low Earth orbit – the zone within approximately 2,011 km of the planet’s surface, and in which many satellites, such as the ISS and NASA’s Earth Observing Fleet System, The problem is not confined to the risk posed to space exploration. A proportion of the space junk in low Earth orbit will gradually lose altitude and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere
Spacecraft
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on astronauts, spacecraft and the environment
Ozone Layer
Space Junk has a direct, negative impact on the environment seeing as objects left behind in space release various chemicals into the atmosphere and ultimately contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. This includes debris from old fuel tanks containing highly toxic fuel residue, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), a carcinogen which is harmful to plants and animals.
Examples of Impact
Spacecraft
After in-space repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope, the returned parts show many orbital debris impacts
Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was left in low Earth orbit for 5.7 years before being retrieved by space shuttle Columbia in January 1990
Orbital Debris
Radar Calibration Spheres (ODERACS) experiment deployed spheres and dipoles from the Shuttle to calibrate the Haystack orbital debris radar measurements
