There are several dangers that are attached to the progression of the world into the technological and scientific age. One such danger includes the thousands of aerospace objects that revolve around the globe at surprisingly high speeds. These objects are collectively known as space junk. The National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) estimates that there are around 13,000 objects bigger than 4 inches in diameter. These objects exist in space due to the abandoned satellites, space shuttle debris, and other adverse effects of man’s quest into space. However, the biggest question exists whether these objects present any immediate danger to the International Space Station, satellites or even to people on the earth.

The most important factor when analyzing the space junk for danger is its speed. Most of these objects move at a speed of 20,000 miles an hour (32,186 kilometers an hour). Any object, whatever its size, has the potential to cause a lot of damage to the space station or a satellite at such high speeds. Moreover, a collision between two or more objects would create more debris and add to the immense amount of objects in space. This is known as the Kessler syndrome named after Donald Kessler who first wrote a paper called the “Collision Frequency of Artificial Satellites” which described the buildup of junk in earth’s orbit. For example, in 2005, a piece of an American and Chinese rocket collided and formed four pieces of debris. A more recent example occurred in February 10, 2009 where two satellites Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 crashed at approximately 8 kilometers a second and shattered into 2,100 pieces. This leads the experts to believe that this phenomenon is happening right now.

An important piece of information that alleviates the danger presented to the International Space Station by the space junk is the distance from the earth. Most space junk exists about 500 miles from the earth while the International Space Station revolves around 350 miles above. Although the space junk does not promote any immediate danger to the International Space Station (ISS), it is certain that the junk has the potential. In March 2009, a stray piece of motor chunk cruised by the $100 billion ISS by about a few miles. In space terms, that was a close call. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem like space junk presents any immediate danger to the people on the ground. Most objects in space would burn up in the atmosphere due to the pressure of gravity on the object. Moreover, UK scientists estimate that a possibility of an object in space hitting someone on earth is 20,000,000 to 1 (2 crores to one). This gives a notion that the probability that an object from space might hit someone is very remote.

Space junk is definitely an issue to be considered and as time progresses, the problem increases.  On a positive note, the leading countries have created agencies to monitor junk and react accordingly.