Suomi NPP Narrowly Avoids Flying Space Junk: The Dangers of Trash in Orbit

Space debris is starting to be a huge problem for satellites orbiting Earth. Now, it turns out that the Suomi NPP satellite experienced a near-miss when it comes to avoiding space trash in Earth's orbit.

Space is littered with numerous manmade objects in Earth's orbit. These objects could potentially collide with spacecraft and create more debris. Currently, the U.S. Department of Defense for satellite managers is monitoring more than 20,000 objects in space-and only about 1,000 of these objects are operating spacecraft.

On Sept. 28, the Suomi NPP mission team was monitoring a possible close approach of a debris object. By early evening, the risk was high enough that the team had to start planning a spacecraft maneuver to place the satellite into a safer zone. While the object was only between four inches to 3.3 feet in size, it was travelling at almost 17,000 mph, which could mean that it could inflict some serious damage on the satellite.

"Because Suomi NPP moves at a similar speed as the debris object, if there had been an impact, it would have occurred at a combined speed of nearly 35,000 mph," said Harry Solomon, Mission Manager for Suomi NPP, in a news release. "This would have been catastrophic not only to the satellite, but would result in thousands of pieces of new debris."

The latest near-miss highlights the huge issue of space debris in orbit. Not only that, but it's likely that smaller debris, that can't be monitored, could also pose the biggest threats.

"If a spacecraft is lost due to being hit by debris, the odds are the satellite will be hit by something the trackers can't see," said Nicholas Johnson, NASA chief scientist for orbital debris.

Currently, scientists continue to monitor space debris so that they can maneuver satellites out of the way, but it's clear that something needs to be done. Strategies to clean up space are now in the process of being reviewed, but it's likely to be some time before we see any of these take place.