Talking Trash About Space Trash

SpaceX’s satellite Falcon 9, which launched in 2015, is due to crash into the moon in a matter of weeks. The satellite did not have enough fuel for its return trip and its “chaotic orbit” will be over when it hits the moon and creates a crater upon impact.

Falcon 9 is one of many rockets and satellites that we've launched into space on a one way trip, and it’s one of over 27,000 pieces of trackable space junk tracked by the Department of Defense that can cause damage to spacecrafts and brighten the skies with light pollution as it reflects the sun’s light. That number does not account for the smaller, untrackable paint chips, nuts and bolts and other small bits of trash that are undetectable but can be just as harmful because of the speeds at which they travel. We speak with Moriba Jah, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and Chief Science Advisor for Privateer, about space trash and the growing need for regulation.