NASA’s Dirty Little Secret

Space exploration has allowed scientists and engineers to make great discoveries, but it has also left behind a growing problem: space debris! This issue can stem from the abandonment of rocket bodies, payloads, and satellite breakup (Chen 514). They all pose significant risks to future missions as it causes the Earth to accumulate trash within its orbit. The ongoing issue is explained by the Kessler Syndrome, a theory that suggests that the accumulation of debris will eventually reach a point where collisions become inevitable and space launches will then be impossible (Fearon). In the…