LIVE MONDAY: Space junk with Jonathan McDowell

In-depth: the upcoming news article on space junk

Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the world’s top expert on man-made objects in orbit around the Earth, will be on the show to discuss the latest news about space junk.

McDowell has been tracking the issue of space junk for decades, and he has seen firsthand how the problem has grown in recent years. In 2019, there were an estimated 29,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters in orbit around the Earth. Today, there are an estimated 34,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters in orbit around the Earth.

What is space junk?

Space junk is any man-made object that is in orbit around the Earth and no longer serves any useful purpose. This includes everything from old satellites to pieces of rocket boosters.

Space junk is a growing problem because it can interfere with satellites and other spacecraft. It can also pose a hazard to astronauts. In 2009, a piece of space junk collided with a Russian satellite, creating thousands of new pieces of space junk.

What is being done to address the problem of space junk?

There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of space junk. One is to design satellites and rockets so that they break up into smaller pieces when they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Another is to develop technologies to remove space junk from orbit.

The problem of space junk is a serious one, but it is one that can be solved. By working together, we can create a safer environment for satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts.