Category Archives: Space Travel

August 16, 2022

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders have introduced bipartisan legislation to clarify the authority of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate commercial space transportation accidents.

TheCommercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2022(H.R. 8689) was introduced by Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) and is cosponsored by Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR). The Members introduced similar legislation last Congress.

As commercial space transportation technology advances, we must guarantee that safety progresses as well. This is the only way to ensure a robust industry and all the benefits of innovation, saidRep. GarretGraves. This legislation clarifies how commercial space transportation accidents will be handled and how lessons learned will be applied. This is the product of engagement with stakeholders across the industry and will promote a strong culture of safety as passengers and cargo are transported to, from and within space.

As commercial space travel continues to grow, Congress must keep the safety of the traveling public at the forefront, saidRep. Rick Larsen. This bipartisan bill ensures NTSB can play an important role in the investigation of commercial space transportation accidents and work with FAA to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

In the coming months, Congress will turn to the development of an NTSB reauthorization bill, and clarifying NTSBs role in commercial space transportation accidents must be a component of that effort, saidRep. Sam Graves. This bill will relieve the commercial space transportation sector of unintended burdens by ensuring that NTSB accident investigation resources are appropriately used in major accidents, not when minor mishaps occur.

The commercial space industry is expanding, and so too should our efforts to oversee it, saidRep. PeterDeFazio.Im pleased to join Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves, Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen, and Ranking Member Sam Graves in introducing the bipartisan Commercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2022, which will ensure that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has the ability to oversee commercial space accidents independently of regulators, and uninhibited by politics, industry, costs, retribution, or censorship. By protecting the NTSBs independence and mandate to carry out unbiased investigations with safety recommendations, we will strengthen our nations transportation system for the modern era.

TheCommercial Space Transportation Safety Act of 2022:

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Bill to Clarify NTSB's Authority in Commercial Space Transportation Accident Investigations Introduced in the House - The House Committee on...

NSRs newly released Space Traffic Study, 2nd Edition report finds that commercialization of more segments of the space value-chain is driving a rapid increase in traffic volumes.

Although markets, such as Earth Observation (EO) or Space Tourism, still only account for 5% of the cumulative data volumes between 2021 and 2031, cloud connectivity and increased investments to downlink data from space are paying off in total data volumes.

Data from space is an increasingly important and recognized part of our lives here on Earth, said Research Director, Brad Grady. As current events highlight, space-based data gives us an unprecedented understanding of the world around us.

Launches to space (Satellites or Humans) are nearly commonplace, and more corners of the world are gaining internet access through space-based connectivity from GEO/MEO/LEO.

Growing more than 60 exabytes of cumulative traffic volumes compared to NSRs first edition study, challenges in GEO offset near-term growth in Applications and Infrastructure. Although growth favors LEO/MEO satellite connectivity, GEO will remain as the largest source of traffic volumes from 2021 to 2031.

While the difference between these competing orbits continues to shrink, highly affordable terminals and other LEO setbacks cannot offset the inertia behind GEO connectivity plays. A migration from video to data and GEO closer to Earth is all underway in the connectivity market which accounts for 95% of cumulative data volumes.

Overall, signs are starting to show that things other than connectivity are transforming the space sector. While satellite communications is the use-case fueling space data traffic volumes, there are new and growing markets that provide greenfield opportunities for established and emerging players.

Although government budgets still have an outsized influence on the space industry, said NSR Research Analyst, Hannah Currivan. The growing commercialization of space travel, EO and internet connectivity drives growth. Overall, it is still data transmitted through space which drives market dynamics.

Bottom Line Cloud connectivity, commercialization, and more data from more places are the key ingredients for space data traffic growth through 2031.

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Space commercialization is driving close to 570 exabytes of info as revealed in new NSR report SatNews - SatNews

FILE PHOTO - Virgin Galactic's carrier airplane WhiteKnightTwo carrying a space tourism rocket plane SpaceShipTwo, takes off from Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, U.S. December 13, 2018. Picture taken December 13, 2018. REUTERS/Gene Blevins

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Aug 4 (Reuters) - Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (SPCE.N) on Thursday again delayed the commercial launch of its space flight to the second quarter of 2023 from the first quarter, sending the shares of the space tourism firm 6% lower after the bell.

The company founded by billionaire Richard Branson had in May cited supply-chain crisis and labor shortage to put off the launch to the first quarter of 2023. Before that, it had delayed flights to the fourth quarter of 2022. read more

"While our short-term plans now call for commercial service to launch in the second quarter of 2023, progress on our future fleet continues," Chief Executive Michael Colglazier said.

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Virgin Galactic had in February re-opened ticket sales to the public for space travel, setting prices at $450,000 per person with an initial deposit of $150,000. read more

The company also reported a bigger net loss of $110.7 million in the second quarter compared to $94 million a year earlier.

Last month, it entered into a pact with Boeing Co (BA.N) subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences to build its new twin-fuselage carrier plane that will ferry its next-generation spaceship to space. read more

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Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Virgin Galactic again delays commercial space flight to second quarter of 2023 - Reuters

Since Frank White's seminal book on "the overview effect" found its way into the hands, minds, and consciousness of readers in 1987, that term has increasingly become iconic for explaining a very human condition attached to the space travel experience.

Following the publishing of that influential work "The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution" White has added to his collection of space traveler accounts, work that shoulder's his original perception of an individual's inner cognitive shift in awareness that can radiate by seeing the Earth from outer space.

It is clear that there's an undertow to the overview effect. Seemingly, it's a subsurface feeling that stands ready to condition humans for not only booting our way back to the moon, but onward to Mars and then to far more distant destinations.

Related: Earth from space: 'Overview effect' could help troubled country, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says

Space.com caught up with the space philosopher to chat about the origin, present-day, and future implications of the overview effect, and his view that the "Human Space Program" is a central project that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "citizens of the universe."

Space.com: How did the original idea for the Overview Effect come to you?

White: The epiphany that gave me the term came out of working in Princeton with Gerard O'Neill at the Space Studies Institute. I was thinking about living permanently in an ideal community, and what it would be like to see the Earth in the sky every day.

Space.com: From that understanding, how did the expression take hold in your mind?

White: I was flying across country and looking out the window. It just kind of came to me that people in the future would always have an overview of the Earth. They would see it where everything is related and connected. They would experience the overview effect. So that was the origin of the idea.

Space.com: And you were motivated to talk to NASA astronauts at that point?

White: I talked to NASA and asked them if I could interview all the astronauts. They didn't think that was possible, but they promised two astronauts if I would come to Houston. They also suggested interviewing retired astronauts, something I had never thought of. So I started interviewing astronauts. I confirmed the hypothesis that there would be something unique about seeing the Earth from a distance. But to my surprise, it wasn't common. So the hypothesis changed a bit.

Space.com: In locking in the term overview effect, what took place then?

White: The actual first use of the term publicly was in my poster in 1985 at a poster session of a Space Studies Institute meeting. The first real explanation of the term was in the first edition of the Overview Effect that came out in 1987. I was fortunate to get a contract with Houghton Mifflin to write the book. By then I had 16 interviews with astronauts and data for my hypothesis that something is happening out there.

Space.com: What were the first reactions to the book?

White: There was one bump in the road. It was my first book and was titled "The Overview Effect." The acquisition editor really understood the book. He said it was the first justification for spaceflight that was convincing to him. But he came back later on and said the marketing people say we can't call it "The Overview Effect," nobody will know what that means. He asked me if I had a backup title. I was so grateful they were publishing the book, I would have done anything.

I told him one term that I used a lot is "citizens of the universe" and he moved that forward. He later came back to me, a couple weeks or a month later, advising me that the marketing people had actually read the book. They said, obviously, the title is "The Overview Effect." And I said, wonderful. I just don't believe the book would have had the impact it has had without the title being "The Overview Effect."

Space.com: From that point in time, you continued carrying out more interviews?

White: I had a return trip to Houston in 2019. I interviewed 10 astronauts there, some retired, some active. Three were actually on the International Space Station at the time of the interview. I have noticed that the active astronauts were perhaps a little bit more effusive in the way they characterize the experience. More emotion you might say than earlier active astronauts. At that time, perhaps they were a little bit more focused on the science and technology side of a mission.

Also, possibly because the overview effect has become a well-know concept. Astronauts understand that there is this other aspect to spaceflight, which are the feelings and the emotional response.

Space.com: The overview effect almost sounds like a medical diagnosis. Why do some get it, others don't?

White: In my interview with Edgar Mitchell, [Apollo 14 astronaut, the sixth man to walk on the moon] he and I talked about the difference between low Earth orbit and the moon. He agreed that there was a difference when you go to the moon in that you get a more universal perspective, looking at the universe and the Earth in the context of the universe. His openness to the experience gave him an extraordinary result. He insisted that everyone who went [to the moon] actually had the same experience of the overview effect but then it was processed and interpreted through individual world views, individual histories. For Mitchell, his experience was so profound I called it the "Universal Insight."

Space.com: So the more distant from Earth and the longer you're gone, the more impact? If so, what about William Shatner's suborbital Blue Origin flight and how he described his experience?

White: It was a short flight and they didn't go very far. And yet I had people emailing me and texting me that Shatner experienced the overview effect. His mind was blown. I think Shatner confirmed what Edgar Mitchell was saying. I don't think he knew what was going to happen. I think Shatner was open to the experience. I don't believe there is anything automatic about it, as far as how powerful the experience is.

Space.com: Can there be overview effect training?

White: That brings us to the commercial side of space travel. It's a big difference between the original astronauts and the professional astronauts and the people that are going now. They are going with an intention to have an experience. Most of them have heard about the overview effect. They are anticipating having it and there's a different mission profile, if you will.

I work with Space for Humanity. They are preparing their citizen astronauts for the experience. They are expected to come back and apply the experience to a project on Earth. We're going to learn how to prepare people for being open to the experience.

Space.com: For future humans to Mars missions, how impactful could the overview effect become?

White: What we're talking about in spaceflight is continuous changes in consciousness. The view of the Earth from orbit or the moon was the first stage. Seeing the Earth from Mars, I call this the "Copernican Perspective," the awareness of being part of the solar system. The Earth is going to be a point of light. You won't see continents and oceans on Earth. I guess you could call it an extension of the overview effect.

Space.com: And then there's the promise of interstellar travel.

White: Identity is a big part of this in the sense that, as you move further away, and if you don't plan to return, your affinity as an Earthling is going to change. You'll have a different sense of who you are. There are analogies here on this planet. We are a migratory species. People have migrated from one place to another, not planning to go back to where they come from. So their identify changes from being a citizen of one country to being a citizen of a different one.

Space.com: Perhaps contact with other star folk may be a teachable moment related to the overview effect?

White: Certainly a key moment in human evolution is going to be when we have confirmed contact with extraterrestrials, be it through SETI, direct contact, or however it might occur. It could be a very beneficial interaction because they might know a lot more about the universe than we do. It could be a very positive thing. The important thing is to approach it with hope and not fear.

To keep an overview eye on Frank White's ongoing work, go to https://frankwhiteauthor.com/ (opens in new tab).

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or on Facebook (opens in new tab).

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Space philosopher Frank White on 'The Overview Effect' and humanity's connection with Earth - Space.com

Since 1948, a bewildering variety of living things, including dogs, apes, plants, reptiles, insects, and various microorganisms, have been sent on extraterrestrial missions. Many animals were killed as a result of these pioneering missions. According to NASA, they sacrificed their lives to advance technology, thus opening the door for all of humanity's subsequent trips into space.

During the early stages of the nation's space program, the Soviet Union launched numerous dogs into orbit, including Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth. During this one-way mission, Laika perished.

The Soviet Union carried out several canine high-altitude tests before the 1957 Laika mission. According to NASA's "A Brief History of Animals in Space," Smelaya the dog ran away the day before the scheduled launch in 1951, raising worries that she might be eaten by neighborhood wolves. The test flight turned out to be successful, and Smelaya was able to return the following day. A few months later, a dog by the name of Bobik also ran away and disappeared.

In the 1950s, mice became the first animals to travel to space, but these pioneering missions frequently failed. When sensors failed to detect any life in the Discoverer 3 capsule during a 1959 attempt to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the US Air Force aborted the launch attempt. The Krylon paint that had been sprayed onto the four mice's cages to smooth out the sharp edges caused them to overdose and die. The mice preferred the Krylon to the formula given to them because it was both tastier and deadlier.

When sensors detected 100% humidity within the capsule, a second launch attempt using a backup mouse crew was also scrapped.

On January 31, 1961, Ham the chimpanzee made history by becoming the first great ape to travel into space. Finding out if animals could complete tasks in space was one of the main objectives of the NASA Mercury-Redstone mission. Ham, who had just turned 2 at the time of the training, was instructed to operate levers to receive incentives in the form of banana pellets and to stay away from punishment in the form of an electrical shock to his feet. Ham had to actively avoid electric shocks while traveling, in addition to coping with the frightening demands of spaceflight. According to NASA, the young chimp performed remarkably well despite facing extreme hardship.

Read also: NASA Hubble Telescope Captures Stunning Images of 'Animals' in Space

The French space program sent a stray Persian cat named Flicetteinto orbit on October 18, 1963. The cat's skull was surgically implanted with electrodes to monitor neurological activity and also cause physical reactions. The first and last cat to have been successfully launched into space is still Flicette, which is either surprising or unsurprising (it's hard to tell which). Soon after the flight, Flicette was put to death so that researchers could examine her brain.

A group of living things made the first-ever journey around the Moon and back as part of the Soviet Zond 5mission. Two Steppe turtles, worms, hundreds of fruit fly eggs, plants, seeds, bacteria, and other organisms were all part of the payload when the spacecraft was launched in 1968. The mission was a success, and the capsule ended up splashing down in the Indian Ocean, the furthest any living thing had ever traveled into space. The result of a 39-day fast was that the tortoises, although still alive, were already on the verge of starvation. Later in the year, a duplicate mission experienced a problem that caused the cabin pressure to drop and all of the biological samples to perish, Gizmodoreports.

Related article: Russia Successfully Launches Spacecraft Full Of Critters Into Space

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5 Weirdest and Most Tragic Stories of Animals Who Were Sent to Space - Nature World News

On the Monday edition of Closer Look, critically acclaimed author, filmmaker and Afro-futurist scholar Ytasha Womack discusses the legacy of trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols. Nichols died Saturday, July 30, aged 89.

Known by many for her role as Nyota Uhura in the originalStar Trek series, Nichols played a pivotal role in the fabric of media during the Civil Rights Movement. The first Black woman to play a lead role in a television series and among the first women depicted as a scientist in space, her innovative contributions to the field opened a realm of possibility for women, people of color and youth. Nichols later became a key figure in recruiting women and minorities to work with NASA and helped mold the future of space travel.

You cant think about science fiction without her name coming up, without her image being one of significance, Womack said. Shes so multi-faceted. She took her role seriously and understood the impact. I think thats something creatives can be inspired by.

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Nichelle Nichols remembered for her contributions to representation in media and space travel WABE - WABE 90.1 FM

This might not be great for the planet, who knew! Photo: Patrick T Fallon/AFP (Getty Images)

I dont know about you, but when Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson were caught in their race to be the first billionaire in space, I wasnt excited. It didnt feel like a great leap forward for humanity or anything lofty like that. Instead, it just felt like a bunch of rich kids finding a new way to mess up the planet. And I was right to be worried, as it turns out that emissions from private space flight are way worse than we thought.

This is all according to a new report from a few high-profile universities around the world, including UCL in London, the University of Cambridge in, erm, Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Researchers from these three institutions studied the emissions from rocket launches 2019. This included gasses emitted by the rocket engines, as well as particulate matter kicked out during liftoff and re-entry.

Soot and chlorine and water, oh my! Photo: Red Huber (Getty Images)

In order to calculate the impact space travel might have, the researchers collected information on the chemicals released by all 103 rocket launches that took place in 2019. They noted that, at this time, none of the launches were dedicated to space tourism.

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Researchers then compared the emissions with recent private space flight demonstrations from Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX, as well as proposals to begin daily rocket launches, to plot what potential future emissions might look like. And its not good.

According to Treehugger, a traditional rocket launch kicks out gases like nitrogen oxide and water vapor. But private flights from the likes of Virgin Galactic and SpaceX also release carbon particles, better known as soot, as well as chlorine and alumina particles.

This doesnt look like a viable mode of transport for the masses.Photo: David Lienemann (Getty Images)

And while all of those emissions are far from great for the planet, its the carbon particulates emitted by burning solid fuels that the researchers warned are the biggest factor in the rising environmental impact of space travel. According to experts at UCL:

The team found that black carbon (soot) particles emitted by rockets are almost 500 times more efficient at holding heat in the atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined (surface and aircraft) resulting in an enhanced climate effect.

The team warned that global warming due to soot could more than double after just three years of additional space flight due to tourism. It specifically cited private launches from Virgin Galactic and SpaceX, as they use kerosene and synthetic rubber fuels to power their crafts.

This boom in emissions due to the fuel of choice for SpaceX isnt a good look for a firm that shares its CEO with EV maker Tesla. Boss Elon Musk has repeatedly claimed that his stratospheric ambitions will benefit the future of the planet, but that only works if theres still a planet to save in the years to come.

A perfect line showing all the spots this SpaceX rocket left soot on its way to space. Photo: Red Huber (Getty Images)

Whats more, the impact of these soot emissions could be even worse for global warming, as they are directly injected into the upper atmosphere. This, the researchers warn, compounds their effect on the climate as they are 500 times more efficient at retaining heat.

Dr. Eloise Marais, study co-author from the UCL Geography department, said: Rocket launches are routinely compared to greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from the aircraft industry, which we demonstrate in our work is erroneous.

Soot particles from rocket launches have a much larger climate effect than aircraft and other Earth-bound sources, so there doesnt need to be as many rocket launches as international flights to have a similar impact. What we really need now is a discussion amongst experts on the best strategy for regulating this rapidly growing industry.

Apollo used kerosene for its launch, then switched to cleaner-burning hydrogen as fuel. Photo: NASA / AFP (Getty Images)

So the big question is, how much of this space travel is really necessary? And, is there a way to clean up any missions into orbit that actually are benefitting the planet?

NASA has used hydrogen as rocket fuel for decades, with the Apollo missions to the moon using the gas as fuel for their second and third stages. Burning hydrogen creates water vapor, so doesnt dump soot into the earths atmosphere like kerosene and synthetic rubber does. Could a change in fuel be needed for anyone that desperately has to go to space?

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Sooty Emissions from Private Space Flight Are Way Worse Than We Thought - Jalopnik

Today, Natures Fynds protein bioreactor is going into orbit aboard SpaceX-25 to develop new ways to provide nutritious, sustainable protein for space exploration.

This flight is an exciting next step in Natures Fynds ongoing collaboration with NASAs EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research), Montana State University, and BioServe Space Technologies, a Center within the University of Colorado Boulder.

The goal of the flight study is to demonstrate the use of a novel bioreactor technology for growing high-protein food on the International Space Station (ISS). This bioreactor technology has proven to efficiently convert simple feedstocks on Earth, including vegetation and other excess plant material into high-protein biomats of fungi. Now, this flight will research the bioreactors efficacy under low-Earth orbit microgravity and radiation conditions.

We are seeing the possibilities of exploration beyond our planet brought to life just this week by NASAs James Webb Space Telescope. Today, were thrilled to announce our role in the revolutionary NASA research to develop a safe, efficient, and robust system for producing fresh food in space. Our connection to NASA is deepNatures Fynd started as a research project for NASA, which led us to discover a remarkable microbe with origins in Yellowstone National Park. Were delighted to come full circle now and demonstrate our technologys efficacy for future space travel. Our breakthrough fermentation system is relatively simple, uses minimal energy and water, and delivers a nutritious protein that is easy to harvest, with little to no waste in a matter of daysas perfect for space as it is here on Earth, said Thomas Jonas CEO and Co-Founder of Natures Fynd.

The novel bioreactor onboard the ISS will grow Fy, Natures Fynds highly versatile, nutritional fungi protein harnessing their patented fermentation technology that uses a fraction of the land, water, and energy required by traditional agriculture. Packed with all twenty amino acids, including the nine essential ones, Fy is a complete, vegan protein and a healthy source of fiber and other essential nutrients. Natures Fynd recently launched its Meatless Breakfast Patties and Dairy-Free Cream Cheese made with Fy in grocery stores across the USto deliver on its mission of creating amazing foods that nourish people while nurturing the planet.

NASA EPSCoR Project Manager Jeppie Compton added, Each of these projects has the potential to contribute to critical innovations in human spaceflight on the International Space Station and beyond. Were very impressed with the ideas put forward in these investigation concepts and look forward to seeing how these technologies perform.

About Natures Fynd

Natures Fynd is a Chicago-based food company creating versatile alternative proteins to nourish the worlds growing population while nurturing the planet. Born out of research conducted for NASA on microbes with origins in Yellowstone National Park, the companys breakthrough fermentation technology grows Fy. Fy is a new-to-the-world nutritional fungi protein that uses only a fraction of the resources required by traditional agriculture. The company has raised over $500 million in equity and debt financing to date. Natures Fynds products are available in stores across the country, including Berkeley Bowl in California, Fairway Market in New York, Marianos in Chicago and now select Whole Foods Markets stores in ten states across the West and Northeast. For more information visit http://www.naturesfynd.com Or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn. The termsNatures Fynd,The Fynder Group,Fy, andFy Protein are trademarks of the Company.

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Natures Fynd collaborates with NASA to grow Fy, its revolutionary fungi-based protein in space - Space Ref

According to a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, theres a six to 10 per cent chance rocket junk may re-enter the Earths atmosphere and could even severely injure or kill a human.

The study was a joint collaboration between professors in the universitys departments of political science and physics.

The researchers say governments need to take collective action to mandate rocket junk be guided safely back to Earth after use. They say such a mandate would inevitably increase the cost of launches but should be a necessary cost.

While the risk to any one person is very low being struck and killed by space junk should not be high on your personal list of worries the researchers still believe it is dangerous enough to warrant being addressed and easy enough to solve, albeit somewhat expensive.

What were proposing is entirely feasible and theres, therefore, no excuse for delaying action on this matter, said Michael Byers, a professor of political science at UBC and the lead researcher on the project.

Technological advancements in space travel now include engines that can reignite as well as extra fuel which can aid in guiding debris to remote areas of the oceans. In addition to the potential threat that it poses to humans, space junk remaining in orbit can also cause significant property damage.

In 2020, a 12-metre long pipe fell from the sky and struck the Ivory Coast village of Mahounou, causing damage to local buildings.

As a vast nation, Canada is at an increased risk of being hit by debris.

In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite, falling back to Earth, scattered potentially radioactive debris into the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The cleanup project that ensued, called Operation Morning Light, ended up costing nearly $14 million. Canada had originally sought $6 million from the Soviet Union but only ended up receiving $3 million.

Because of the Earths rotation, it is unlikely the nation launching a spacecraft will also be the one that suffers the consequences of its debris.

Despite most spacecraft being launched from the global north, the researchers found the global south disproportionately bears the risk of being struck by space junk because of the earths tilt and rotations.

RELATED: VIDEO: NASAs new telescope shows star death, dancing galaxies

The study found the latitudes aligned with Jakarta, Dhaka and Lagos are approximately three times more likely to be struck by debris than those of New York, Moscow and Bejing.

Byers suggests following the model of international collaboration that took place after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 and the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 treaty that phased out the use of substances causing rapid ozone depletion.

Both required some cost to change practice, but in response to new scientific analysis, there was a collective will to do so, said Byers. In both instances, they were complete successes.

According to NASA, there are 27,000 pieces of orbital debris being tracked by the American government. However, much more debris, too small to be tracked but large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic missions, exists.

Spacecraft and debris both travel at extremely high speeds (upwards of 25,000 km/h) so even a small piece of debris could create big problems, NASA indicates.

As of 2017, the United States had the most pieces of debris in orbit with 3,999. Russia was a close second, with 3,961 pieces of debris (including items from the Soviet Union).

Proportionally, China is the leading pollutor of space junk, with 7.5 pieces of debris objects per payload. The United States and Russia are responsible for 1.3 and 4.3 objects per payload, respectively.

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Death by objects falling from space could be more likely than people realize Terrace Standard - Terrace Standard

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