Thousands of SpaceX Starlink satellites could pose 'unprecedented' space junk problem

The derelict Russian satellite Cosmos 2251 had been aimlessly spinning around Earth for nearly 15 years when, in 2009, it slammed into a functional Iridium telecommunication satellite at 26,000 miles per hour.

This collision sprayed an estimated 200,000 centimeter-sized bits of debris into orbit around Earth. Another 3,200 broken pieces from the crash were much larger, at 10 centimeters or greater in size. Each of these objects hurtling around Earth became instantly weaponized. They now threaten to pierce, damage, or destroy any other satellites unlucky enough to be in their way.

This debris, fortunately, hasn't yet collided with any other working satellites.  Read more...

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