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Articles on Space junk

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Perhaps hoping for an election boost, India’s Prime Minister Modi announces that Indian scientists shot down a live satellite at a low-earth orbit. Jaipal Singh / AAP

India destroys its own satellite with a test missile, still says space is for peace

On 27 March, India announced it had successfully conducted an anti-satellite missile test, Mission Shakti. India is now the fourth country in the world displaying this capability.
What will China discover on the far side of the moon? BeeBright/Shutterstock.com

Will China’s moon landing launch a new space race?

China just became the first country to land a probe on the far side of the moon. It’s a technological achievement and another sign of China’s capabilities and ambitions in space.
Space debris in Earth orbit creates a dangerous obstacle course for satellites and astronauts. Dotted Yeti / Shutterstock.com

Why space debris cleanup might be a national security threat

Countries developing technology that removes or blasts away space junk may appear to be doing a public service. But those same technologies can destroy military and communications satellites.
Without satellites, modern technologies such mobiles phones and GPS would not exist. Flickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Curious Kids: How do satellites get back to Earth?

We’ve all seen videos of satellites being blasted off into space - but once they’re locked in orbit around the earth, how do we bring them back down?
The Telstar 1 satellite inspired a chart-topping pop tune, the iconic black-and-white hexagonal Adidas soccer ball, and maybe even a Doctor Who creature, the Mecanoids. National Physical Laboratory

Trash or treasure? A lot of space debris is junk, but some is precious heritage

Protecting culturally significant spacecraft enables people on Earth to feel connected to space as the common heritage of humanity.

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