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Check this site out, it's a catalogue of known stuff in space http://stuffin.space/

The ISS has regular enough operations required to dodge debris detected approaching for a near miss in space that I think it's definitely a concern for future operations.

Consider as well that stuff in orbit is going ~25,000km/h or more and at that speed even a small bolt would decimate a spacecraft on impact.



I always dislike those visualisations as it gives the impression it’s crowded, because the dots aren’t to scale.

Are the orbits in opposing directions? If not, then the 25k number isn’t meaningful right? Their relative velocity is what matters

That’s interesting about the ISS I hadn’t heard of that as a regular thing.


Just to follow up on the ISS, they have made a total of 20 avoidance maneuverers and they do it if they calculate the chance of hitting as greater than 1 in 10000.

So it is a thing, but I wouldn’t call < 1 per year regular


What on earth...I did not know that there are sooo many thing floating around near us. Absolutely crazy.


In this visualization, they probably look a lot larger then they are in reality...


Fair point :)




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