Space Is Turning Into A Junkyard; Scientists Call For Recycling Revolution | Firstpost America
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A growing cloud of space junk is turning Earth’s orbit into a hazardous scrapyard, scientists warn. Decades of abandoned satellites, rocket parts and tiny debris—now exceeding 100 million pieces—pose rising threats to the ISS, satellites and future space missions. Researchers at the University of Surrey are urging a global shift toward “space recycling,” proposing repairable satellites, orbital recycling hubs and coordinated collision-avoidance systems. Existing efforts, like SpaceX’s reusable rockets and Astroscale’s satellite-catching tech, help but aren’t enough. With more than 2,600 new objects launched annually, experts fear a chain-reaction collision scenario known as Kessler Syndrome, which could cripple GPS, communications and the global economy. Scientists say urgent international cooperation is needed to keep Earth’s orbit safe.
