There's a storm of junk swirling around our planet. I built the 3D data visualisation that tracks all the space debris that has built up in orbit from 1957 to 2025. Is based on data from several space agencies.
White points represent trackable debris, which are dynamically added, or subtracted when they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. Space junk overall is building, choked with defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and collision fragments.
Key events like the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test and the 2009 Iridium-Cosmos collision have significantly added to this orbit junk pile. It's important because collisions have become a very real risk, presenting a real risk to space flight.
Music: Eternal Odyssey by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Epidemic Sounds
Source: NASA ODPO, ESA SDO, UCS Satellite Database, NASA/TP-20220019160
Note: Figures are estimates refined to reflect evolving cataloging practices and debris dynamics.
