Space Debris — Definition

Definition

Space debris consists of human-made objects in space that no longer serve a useful purpose, including defunct satellites, spent rocket bodies and fragments. It differs from operational spacecraft and naturally occurring micrometeoroids, although all can be relevant to collision assessment.

High relative speeds make even small fragments significant hazards. Managing debris involves observation, risk assessment, prevention of new fragments and appropriate end-of-mission disposal; active removal addresses existing objects.

A tracked-object count is not a complete debris inventory, and a conjunction alert is not a confirmed collision. Effective management requires physical understanding, reliable operations and coordination among actors sharing orbital regions.