Space debris, also known as space junk, refers to defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other discarded objects that orbit Earth. With thousands of satellites in orbit, the amount of space debris has increased significantly, posing a risk to functioning satellites and spacecraft. Collisions between space debris and operational satellites can lead to more debris, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
Efforts are being made to mitigate space debris, including designing satellites that can be deorbited at the end of their life and developing technology to capture and remove space junk. Addressing this issue is critical to ensuring the future of space exploration and satellite communications.