A US Air Force weather satellite shattered into 50 pieces just before Christmas 2024, marking one of four recent fragmentation events that intensify concerns about space debris congestion. Space traffic controllers now issue over 1,000 collision warnings daily, revealing the mounting crisis in Earth’s orbit. The Growing Space Debris Problem Over 130 million estimated pieces of space debris orbit Earth currently, with approximately 40,500 pieces greater than four inches being trackable, according to the European Space Agency. Most debris travels at approximately 18,000 mph – seven times faster than a bullet, according to NASA data. “The number of objects in … Continue reading USAF Satellite Adds 50+ Pieces to Space Debris, Kessler Syndrome Looms