Three Chinese astronauts have finally returned to Earth after being stranded in orbit when their return capsule was damaged by space debris.
What is going on?
Commander Chen Dong and crewmates Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie had been in space since April, according to Wired. The team was due to return in early November, but the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft was damaged by debris. Officials later confirmed that the return journey would be postponed.
“Things like this will become more and more common as billionaires increasingly treat low Earth orbit like their personal backyard and garbage dump,” said one Bluesky user.
Wired reported that the stranded crew eventually returned on the newest spacecraft Shenzhou 21. It described the trip as the “longest-duration crewed mission for China’s space program.”
Why is space debris important?
There are almost 6,000 tons of materials in low Earth orbit, according to NASA. Space debris, also called space junk, can move up to 18,000 mph, or nearly seven times faster than a bullet. With those speed rates and the quantity of debris, there are many safety hazards in space.
According to SpaceNews, there are more than 10,000 operational satellites in low Earth orbit and thousands of failed ones. The Government Accounting Office estimates that the number could increase to 58,000 by 2030.
More satellites could make collisions with space debris more likely. For example, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has about 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, although an astrophysicist told EarthSky that at least one falls from the sky every day.
The presence of space debris creates environmental risks for the planet as well. According to Earth.org, small debris in low Earth orbit will gradually burn up in the atmosphere. The toxic pollutants released can have a negative impact on the climate.
What is being done about space debris?
In 2024, NASA unveiled its Space Sustainability Strategy. The program seeks to clean up space junk in orbit and ensure that resources are shared sustainably.
Others are focused on safety measures. Atomic-6, an aerospace startup, has introduced impact shield tiles to keep astronauts safe after reports of falling Starlink satellites.
Meanwhile, people have called on the tech giants that invest in space exploration to make changes.
“Billionaires should spend money to clean up space and the toxic waste they are dumping on the planet,” wrote another Bluesky user.
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