List of space debris producing events

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Major contributors to space debris include the explosion of upper stages and satellite collisions.[1]

Overview

There were 190 known satellite breakups between 1961 and 2006.[2] By 2015, the total had grown to 250 on-orbit fragmentation events.[3]

As of 2012 there were an estimated 500,000 pieces of debris in orbit,[4] with 300,000 pieces below 2000 km (LEO).[1] Of the total, about 20,000 are tracked.[1] Also, about sixteen old Soviet nuclear space reactors are known to have released an estimated 100,000 NaK liquid metal coolant droplets 800–900 km up,[5] which range in size from 1–6 cm.[5]

The greatest risk to space missions is from untracked debris between 1 and 10 cm in size.[1] Large pieces can be tracked and avoided, and impact from smaller pieces are usually survivable.[1]

Top debris creation events

More information Object, Year ...
Top debris creation events, August 2024[6]
ObjectYearPiecesNotes
Fengyun-1C20073,549Intentional collision (ASAT)
Kosmos 225120091,716Accidental collision with Iridium 33
Kosmos 140820211,562Intentional collision (ASAT)
Long March 6A upper stage2024700–900+Unknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.[7]
Long March 6A upper stage2022781[8]Unknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation with later debris cloud expansion.[8][9]
STEP 2 Rocket Body1996756Residual propellant explosion
Iridium 332009659Accidental collision with Kosmos 2251
Kosmos 24212008511Disintegrated[citation needed]
SPOT 1 Rocket Body1986506Residual propellant explosion
Parus1981482Battery explosion
OV2-1 Rocket Body1965473Engine explosion
Nimbus 4 Rocket Body1970465Residual propellant explosion
NOAA-162015458Battery explosion
TES Rocket Body2001373Residual propellant explosion
CBERS-1 Rocket Body2000344Residual propellant explosion
Fregat tank2020338Residual propellant explosion
Ablestar1961320Residual propellant explosion
Delta 29101975313Residual propellant explosion
Solwind1985289Intentional collision (ASAT) [10]
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Recent events

More information Date, Object ...
DateObjectInternational DesignationCauseTotal PiecesPieces in OrbitReentered Pieces as of Dec 2022[a]
August 31, 2018Centaur V upper stage[11]2014-055BUnknown[11]1071070
December 22, 2018ORBCOMM FM-16 [11]1998-046EEnergetic fragmentation; Probably caused by left over propellent[12]1358
January 24, 2019Microsat-R[12]2019-006AASAT (Anti-Satellite) weapon system test[12]1290129
February 6, 2019H2-A 202 Rocket Body[11]2018-084LUnknown; Third known breakup of an H-2A Rocket Body[11]606
February 6, 2019H2-A 202 Payload Adapter[11]2018-084EEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause Unknown[11]303
April 2019Centaur V Rocket Body[12]2018-079BEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause Unknown[12]1931921
May 7, 2019Titan IIIC Transtage rocket body[13]1976-023FEnergetic fragmentation event by caused the overheating of leftover anhydrous hydrazine(N2H4) Mono Propellant[13]?[b]??
August 19, 2019SOZ (Sistema Obespecheniya Zapuska) ullage motor from a Proton Block DM fourth stage[13]2010-041HEnergetic fragmentation event; caused by left over fuel in the ullage motor. 30th fragmentation event of a SOZ unit. 34 intact units remain in orbit[13]23230
August 13, 2019Ariane 42P third stage rocket body[13]1992-052DUnknown[13]10100
December 23, 2019Kosmos 24912013-076EUnknown[14][15]~20~200
May 8, 2020Fregat tank[16]2011-037BUnknown, possibly explosion[16]34628066
July 12, 2020H2-A 202 Fairing[16]2018-084CCollision with untracked debris[16]1235118
March 18, 2021Yunhai-1 02[17]2019-063AAccidental collision with a fragment from the Zenit-2 rocket body that launched Tselina-2 in 1996.[17]392019
November 15, 2021Kosmos 14081982-092AASAT (Anti-Satellite) weapon system test17873941393
November 12, 2022Long March 6A upper stage2022-151BUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.[18][19][20]78172259
November 17, 2022H2-A 202 Payload fairing2012-025FEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause unknown[21]50+50+0
January 4, 2023Kosmos 24992014-028EUnknown[15]85850
March 11, 2023Orbcomm F361999-065EUnknown; likely energetic fragmentation event caused by a malfunction in the hydrazine orbit adjust system[22][23]770
August 21, 2023Vega VV02 VESPA adapter2013-021DUnknown; likely debris impact[24][25]770
June 26, 2024Resurs-P No.12013-030AUnknown; but may be related to improper spacecraft passivization[26][27]100[28]19[28]?
July 4, 2024Long March 6A upper stage2024-126CUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.[29]44[28]0[28]?
August 6, 2024Long March 6A upper stage2024-140UUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.[7]700+[28]663[28]?
September 6, 2024Atlas V Centaur upper stage2018-022BUnknown;843+[28]843[28]?
October 19, 2024Intelsat 33e2016-053BUnknown; potential threat to all spacecraft in geostationary orbit, including the Russian satellites, Ekspress-AT1, Yamal-402, Ekspress-AM6 and Elektro-L;[30][31]1104+[28]1104[28]?
February 9, 2025New Glenn upper stage+Blue Ring2025-011AEnergetic fragmentation event;[citation needed] Cause Unknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.67670
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  1. [a]
    The date when all rows were updated.
  2. [b]
    No fragments have entered the SSN catalog as 2022-09-22

References

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