Nearly half of Earth’s orbiting objects are space debris, and this figure only accounts for the known debris.
Orbital infrastructure faces growing threats from debris, a situation likely to worsen with increasing launches.
World Map Courtesy of NASA/Getty Images
Space debris, making up nearly half of the objects orbiting Earth, poses an escalating risk as the frequency of launches and orbital structures increase.
According to data from the U.S. Space Force’s Space-Track.org, the engineering supply company Accu reports there are 33,269 trackable objects currently in orbit, with 17,682 being satellites. The remainder includes defunct rocket parts, debris, and unidentified objects.
Accu states in a report that “almost 47 percent of these tracked objects are space debris.” They further suggest that the actual number of inactive or uncontrollable objects is likely higher due to many non-operational satellites.
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Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, space junk has continued to accumulate, accelerating over the past decade as launch costs have decreased and space flight frequency has increased. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of trackable objects in orbit grew by about 10,000.
The issue could be more severe than estimated. Accu highlights that there are possibly millions of smaller objects, like paint flecks or debris from rockets, that are too small to track but pose significant risks due to their high speeds of over 17,000 miles per hour. In 2024, astronauts on the International Space Station had to take cover when a decommissioned Russian satellite broke apart, leading to a U.S. government initiative to locate and monitor smaller debris in low-Earth orbit. In 2025, a suspected piece of space junk cracked the window of a return capsule, stranding several Chinese taikonauts on the Tiangong space station.
While space debris could potentially harm astronauts, Accu’s analysis indicates that satellites face the greatest threat, with seven pieces of tracked junk for every ten satellites.
Despite the global nature of the problem, the sources are not evenly distributed. The report suggests China is responsible for 65 percent of the debris, while the U.S. and the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes Russia and eight smaller countries, are responsible for approximately 40 percent and 23 percent, respectively.
Organizations like NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the U.K. Space Agency, and the European Space Agency are exploring ways to clean up low-Earth orbit. Various private companies are also offering services as space debris collectors. However, until significant amounts of debris are removed, Accu urges spacecraft designers to prioritize the issue.
“For future spacecraft engineers, considering space debris from the outset is crucial,” the report’s authors emphasize. “The selection of components, based on precision, durability, and materials, must account for potential impacts. Tackling space debris is a significant challenge of the modern space era, and how it is addressed will drive innovation and shape the future of space exploration.”
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