Where does this come from, and can I check it?

Defunct satellites and paint flecks orbit Earth at high orbital velocities. The figure is taken from ESA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a space fact?

Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Earth orbit holds millions of artificial space debris fragments

Defunct satellites and paint flecks orbit Earth at high orbital velocities

More than 30,000 pieces of orbital debris larger than ten centimetres, alongside millions of smaller paint specks and metal shards, circle Earth in low orbit. Travelling at speeds up to 28,000 kilometres per hour, even tiny millimetre-sized debris can puncture spacecraft hulls during hypervelocity impacts.

Where this comes from

ESA

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Technology trivia Speed Calculator

More facts like this

Arthur C. Clarke conceptualized geostationary communications satellites in 1945Orbiting 35,786 kilometres above the equator allows satellites to match Earth's rotational speed Lagrange points provide stable orbital parking spots in spaceGravitational forces balance orbital motion at five points around two bodies The Moon is slowly drifting away from EarthLuni-solar tidal friction pushes the Moon outward by roughly four centimetres each year Halley Comet returns to the inner solar system every 76 yearsThe famous periodic comet will next become visible from Earth in 2061 The International Space Station orbits Earth every 90 minutesTravelling at 28,000 kilometres per hour astronauts see sixteen sunsets every day The Moon is tidally locked so it always shows the same face to EarthMatching rotational and orbital periods hide the lunar far side from view

Tags: space debris, orbit, satellites

Earth orbit holds millions of artificial space debris fragments: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Defunct satellites and paint flecks orbit Earth at high orbital velocities. The figure is taken from ESA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a space fact?: Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.