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What isspace debris?

What is space debris?

Space debris is a term used to describe any human-made object in Earth's orbit resulting from various space missions. This includes large objects such as defunct satellites that failed or were left in orbit after their missions ended, as well as smaller objects such as debris from various spacecraft or launch vehicles.

What is space debris?

Causes of space debris

Causes of space debris

There are many reasons for debris to accumulate in orbit, the most prominent of which are:

Causes of space debris

Lifespan of satellites Lifespan of satellites

Satellites end their life without being de-orbited.

separation or disintegration of parts separation or disintegration of parts

from vehicles or missiles after launch

Accidents Accidents

Collisions between objects in orbit

Military experiments Military experiments

Targeting spacecraft and satellites.

Technical and scientific challenges:

Space debris threatens satellites and manned missions, but key technical challenges hinder mitigation, including:

Difficulty tracking small objects less than 10 cm in size despite their danger

Difficulty tracking small objects less than 10 cm in size despite their danger

The risk of a chain of collisions multiplying the amount of debris.

The risk of a chain of collisions multiplying the amount of debris.

The high costs of protection and maneuvering to avoid collisions in space missions

The high costs of protection and maneuvering to avoid collisions in space missions

Difficulty tracking small objects less than 10 cm in size despite their danger
Difficulty tracking small objects less than 10 cm in size despite their danger
The risk of a chain of collisions multiplying the amount of debris.
The risk of a chain of collisions multiplying the amount of debris.
The high costs of protection and maneuvering to avoid collisions in space missions
The high costs of protection and maneuvering to avoid collisions in space missions

The agencylaunched the Space Debris Conference, which is held every two years:

The agency launched the Space Debris Conference, which is held every two years:

To serve as a global platform for discussing developments in this field, aiming to: - Raise awareness of the risks and impacts of space debris on global space activities. - Unite industry, governments, academia, and international partners to enhance cooperation. - Accelerate the adoption of solutions to address the debris challenge. - Promote investment in mitigation and removal. - Support policies for sustainable space management.

The agency launched the Space Debris Conference, which is held every two years:

The Kingdom's efforts to combat space debris:

As part of the Kingdom's vision to enhance its leadership in the space sector and ensure its sustainability, the Saudi Space Agency organized the first Space Debris Conference in February 2024, with local and international participation, to discuss challenges and possible solutions. Following its success, the agency is preparing to launch the second edition, continuing its efforts to support scientific dialogue and international cooperation.

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The Kingdom's efforts to combat space debris:

The Kingdom's efforts to combat space debris:

Related links

Educational Resources Library Educational Resources Library

Explore the world of space with downloadable and printable publications.

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2024 Conference Prospectus 2024 Conference Prospectus

Space Debris Conference 2024 Summary

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