This European Space Agency simulation shows the number of spacecraft currently orbiting the Earth, with many expected to either burn up in the atmosphere, or move to a distant 'graveyard orbit' when they reach end of life By Mojaba Akhavan-Tafti, Published by The Conversation, 3 December 2025 The rapid expansion
The Shenzhou-20 crew — Wang Jie (left), Chen Zhongrui (center), and Chen Dong (right) — has been stranded on board the Tiangong space station after their return capsule was hit with space junk. The trio launched into space on April 24. (Image credit: PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images) By Harry
ISS. Credit: NASA By Anthony Wood, Published by IGN, 24 July 2024 SpaceX and NASA plan to de-orbit the International Space Station (ISS) using a powerful version of the company's Dragon spacecraft, which will push the orbital outpost onto a precision atmospheric re-entry over an unpopulated ocean region. Earlier this
By Michael J. L. Brown, Published by The Conversation, 1 December 2022 The night sky is a shared wilderness. On a dark night, away from the city lights, you can see the stars in the same way as your ancestors did centuries ago. You can see the Milky Way and
By Tanmay Kadam, Published by The Eurasian Times, 10 July 2022 Chinese space scientists used an enormous space sail to deorbit a recently launched Long March 2 rocket, China’s state-owned Global Times reported on July 6. This was the first such experiment ever performed on a rocket. This deorbiting sail
By John P. Ruehl, Published by AlterNet, 11 May 2022 The suspension of collaborative projects between Russian and Western space agencies will enhance their traditional rivalries. But the new space race is also being driven by other countries—as well as private companies. Shortly after Russia was sanctioned for invading Ukraine
By Leonard David, Published by Space.com, 7 March 2022 It's a form of pollution, after all. With increasing regularity, Earth's oceans are the drop zones for incoming leftovers from space. For decades, Russian Progress resupply spacecraft loaded with tons of waste from the International Space Station (ISS) have been intentionally
By Andrew Jones, Published by SpaceNews, 28 January 2022 HELSINKI — China has released a new white paper outlining the centrality of space to the country’s “overall national strategy” as well as major plans for the years ahead. Over the next five years China will seek to develop its space
