Satellites | Astronomy.com

A dense cluster of silver and gray spacecraft components, rocket parts, and satellite fragments floats against a black starfield, packed tightly on the left side of the frame and thinning into scattered individual pieces toward the right. The objects range from large cylindrical rocket stages and solar panel arrays to small bolts and twisted metal fragments.

Solar activity determines how fast space junk falls to Earth

An illustration of a satellite breaking apart as it plunges toward Earth's atmosphere, shown against a dark starfield with the white cloud layer of Earth visible at the lower right. The spacecraft's orange and tan body is engulfed in orange flame and brown smoke, with blue solar panels, a silver dish antenna, and other fragments flying outward in all directions.

Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat-resistant

What's Launching This Week

Cygnus heads to the ISS as SpaceX keeps up the pace

New satellite constellations could ruin the night sky, astronomers warn

Can game theory help declutter space?

Robotic Spaceflight

Satellite megaconstellations: Not just a problem from Earth anymore

Our atmosphere is responding differently to solar storms, and satellites will feel the effects

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 14, 1959: Explorer 6 images Earth

Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 8, 1989: The Hipparcos satellite launches

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 2, 1967: The discovery of GRBs

Space Exploration, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 7, 1992: The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer launches

Quantum computers could crack the security codes used by satellites