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| Space Pollution Space Pollution? How can this be possible? It was just around 56 years ago on October 4, 1957 when the first Satellite, Sputnik – 1 was launched into space. How could the vast emptiness of space get polluted so quickly? |
While not all of space is polluted, wherever man has gone he has left his trail of pollution behind. As man continues to launch space stations, rockets, satellites, telescopes and probes into space the area around the earth is getting full of unwanted junk. |  Visual depicting Space Junk |
Old and damaged satellites, rocket boosters, cameras, lens covers, tools, astronauts’ gloves and assorted nuts and bolts continue to orbit around the earth at velocities of around 6 miles per second. At this great velocity even a small nut or piece of debris has enough force to cause great damage to an orbiting satellite. Astronomers are worried that if such a collision were to occur, it would have disastrous consequences. If a satellite were to get damaged it would have a “Domino-effect”. This damaged satellite would go off-course and in turn crash into and destroy other satellites. Imagine a world without satellites. No Satellite TV, no mobiles phones, no weather forecasting, no quick data transfers across the world. A grim scenario indeed. |
 Artists impression of Space Debris Hitting a Satellite | In 2007 China launched an ASAT (Anti-Satellite) missile to destroy one of its old Fengyun 1C Satellites becoming one of only 3 countries with the ability to destroy a satellite from the earth. While this had severe long-term implications for all countries that have satellites, the immediate concern was how to avoid the estimated 3000 pieces of debris created by the destruction of the satellite. |
Over the last 5 years, the International Space Station had to fire its rocket boosters several times in order to avoid damage to the space station from the pieces of the Chinese satellite. |
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