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The are thosands of small pieces of junk orbiting Earth (as well as thousands of satellites)

Physics

Quantum sensors could detect space debris from its gravitational pull

Devices based on quantum properties of very cold and very small crystals could be mounted on satellites and sense space debris that could collide with them

News

Earth

Tonga volcano eruption disrupted satellites halfway around the world

News

NEW CLOUDS ABOVE US The modern world relies on satellites for its communications and commerce. While mostly invisible to us as we go about out daily lives, our entire modern way of living ? both socially and professionally ? is intimately linked with the orbital space around the Earth. How we treat this extraterrestrial environment will determine how much we can rely on it in the future. ?In this view of Greenwich, London, you?ve got examples of what?s in space. I photographed about 300 artefacts ranging from satellites to rocket bodies, satellite parts, solar panels, all the way down to the screws and a glove to show what?s up there. The photography was done over a one year period, across North America, Europe and the UK. I wanted to show this from a human perspective ? from the ground looking up. I chose Greenwich because of its history of astronomy and because from there you can see the financial district of London to highlight the modern world?s connection to the satellites that circle Earth.? Max Alexander

Comment

Space debris problem highlighted in new series of photographs

Regulars

Environment

A map of every tree in Africa will help monitor deforestation

News

Shooting stars and Starlink stellites leaving streaks in photographs of the night sky

Space

SpaceX's efforts to make satellites less bright aren't working well

Analysis

Fishing vessels are catching squid at night.

Environment

Squid fishing is booming in unregulated parts of the ocean

News

A balloon in a field

Technology

China, UK and US are all boosting their spy balloon programs

News

Virgin Orbit

Space

First satellite launch from the UK failed due to an ‘anomaly’

News

An adapted Boeing 747 called Cosmic Girl

Space

First satellite launch from the UK set to go ahead in Cornwall

News

This photograph taken on September 25, 2022, shows an antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system donated by the US tech billionaire Elon Musk in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP) (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)

Technology

What's next if SpaceX won't fund Starlink in Ukraine?

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the company can no longer pay for the Starlink satellites providing internet for Ukraine’s government and military. What you need to know

Analysis

Space

Swarm of light-sail spacecraft could be propelled by laser on the moon

News

Technology

Global satellite map will help hunt down illegal fishing vessels

News

Space

Methane emissions from cows spotted from space for the first time

News

Space

What does Amazon's attempt to dominate space mean for everyone else?

Analysis