Space debris

LEO - the region of space within 2,000 km of the Earth's surface

GEO image

GEO Polar image

Aluminum oxide slag as a byproduct of Solid rocket motors are potentially a significant source of centimeter sized orbital debris

titanium motor casing of a Delta 2 third stage, weighing about 70 kg, landed in Saudi Arabia about 240 km from the capital of Riyadh, 21 January 2001

Spent Delta 2 second stage in space. Photographed by the XSS-10 satellite

main propellant tank of the second stage of a Delta 2 launch vehicle which landed near Georgetown, TX, on 22 January 1997

30 kg titanium pressurant tank survived the reentry of the Delta 2 second stage on 22 January 1997, found near Seguin, TX

Delta 2 second stage reentered on 27 April 2000 over South Africa

Simulation of what happens when a piece of orbital debris hits a spacecraft in orbit.

Space debris impact on Space Shuttle window.

Debris hole in a pannel of the SMM Satellite.

Debris impacts in returned parts from HST.

Debris impacts in a LDEF pannel.

Known orbit planes of Fengyun-1C debris one month after its disintegration by a Chinese interceptor. The white orbit represents the International Space Station

NASA's Illustration about the impact between an Ariane fragment and the Cerise satellite

NASA's Illustration showing the impact risk of debris with the ISS

Human-made pressurization sphere stemming from a rocket body that fell in Southern Africa

Orbital Debris Lifetime Diagram for High Excentricity Orbits

Orbital Debris Lifetime Diagram for Low Eccentricity Orbits