Earth orbit getting crowded say ESA
The Space Operations Centre at the European Space Agency (ESA) has highlighted the problem of 'abandoned' satellites orrbiting the earth Since the launch of Sputnik on 4th October 1957 they say over 6,000 satellites have been sent into orbit of which only 800 (or 13 percent) are currently operational.
They have now created these images to illustrate just how crowed our skies now are.
"Between the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 and 1 January 2008, approximately 4600 launches have placed some 6000 satellites into orbit," said an ESA spokesperson.
"Of these about 400 are travelling beyond geostationary orbit or on interplanetary trajectories."
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ESA
"Of these about 400 are travelling beyond geostationary orbit or on interplanetary trajectories."
LINKS
ESA
