Space crash debris may orbit Earth for 10,000 years

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-14 15:39

The crash of two satellites has generated an estimated tens of thousands of pieces of space junk that could circle Earth and threaten other satellites for the next 10,000 years, space experts said Friday.

This image provided by the European Space Agency shows and artist impression of catalogued objects in low-Earth orbit viewed over the Equator. The debris field shown in this image is an artist's impression based on actual data but not shown in their actual size or density. [CFP]

One expert called the collision "a catastrophic event" that he hoped would force US President Barack Obama’s administration to address the long-ignored issue of debris in space.

Russian Mission Control chief Vladimir Solovyov said Tuesday's smashup of a derelict Russian military satellite and a working US Iridium commercial satellite occurred in the busiest part of near-Earth space, some 500 miles (800 kilometers) above Earth.

"800 kilometers is a very popular orbit which is used by Earth-tracking and communications satellites," Solovyov told reporters. "The clouds of debris pose a serious danger to them."

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