Since the first artificial satellite called Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, many countries have launched projectiles in space to gain many kinds of information and demonstrate developed technologies. According to Kim (2015), the number of projectiles launched by countries is approximately 3,000. But the total number is more than 6,600 when the number of informal spy and military satellites is included. This lead to a lot of space junk which is defined that it is debris after rockets are separated from a satellite, a space shuttle and a missile and the old satellites which cannot operate are also artificial space debris. This essay will describe two main causes of the increase in space junk in earth orbit in terms of the space race and the Kessler Syndrome as well as the effects on humans and present circumstances to overcome it.
The growing amount of space junk becomes a serious issue.
· Brachet.G et.al (2011), chapter 1: The space environment, Space Security, pp.31
· http://www.spacesecurity.org
· Bradley and Wein 2009 in Weeden.B (2012), The economics of space sustainability: Space a public good and global commons, The Space Review
· http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2093/1
· CARI School, Space Junk
· http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1051268&cid=42474&categoryId=42474
· Dodson.B (2012), Space debris: Where does it come from, and what can we do about it?, Gizmag
· http://www.gizmag.com/space-debris-kessler-syndrome-nasa-debrisat/24911/
· Gass.V in Barraud.E (2008), Cleaning up Earth’s orbit: A Swiss satellite to tackle space debris, News Mediacom
· http://actu.epfl.ch/news/cleaning-up-earth-s-orbit-a-swiss-satellite-to-tac/
· Garcia.M (2015), Space Debris and Human Spacecraft: Orbital Debris, NASA
· http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html
· Garcia.M (2015), Space Debris and Human Spacecraft: Orbital Debris, NASA
· http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html
· Kim (2006), Space junk is dangerous level, The Science Times
· http://www.sciencetimes.co.kr/?p=34672&cat=30&post_type=news&paged=260
· Kim (2015), Study on role of international soft law to reduce the space debris, pp 470
· Lafleur.C (2010), Spacecraft stats and insights: who launches what?, The Space Review
· http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1598/1
· Lewis.H (2015), Trouble in orbit: the growing problem of space junk, Space junk in numbers, BBC
· http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33782943
· NASA, Three Classes of Orbit: High Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit, Low Earth Orbit, NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY
· http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsCatalog/page2.php
· Park,L, When Satellites Fall: On the Trails of Cosmos 954 and USA 193: Cosmos 954
· http://www.flowjournal.org/2009/06/when-satellites-fall-on-the-trails-of-cosmos-954-and-usa-193lisa-parks-uc-santa-barbara/
· Plumer.B (2013), Space trash is a big problem. These economists have a solution: The space-trash dilemma, The Washington Post
· https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/10/24/space-is-filling-up-with-garbage-heres-why-we-should-tax-it/
· Tate.K (2013), Space Junk Explained: How Orbital Debris Threatens Future of Spaceflight (Inforgraghic), SPACE.COM
· http://www.space.com/23039-space-junk-explained-orbital-debris-infographic.html
· UNITED NATIONS Office for Outer Space Affairs, TREATIES in Space Law Treaties and Principles
· http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties.html
· Weeden.B (2012), The economics of space sustainability: Lack of private actors deriving private benefits, The Space Review
· http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2093/1
· Weinberger.S (2012), Space Junk: Why it is time to clean up the skies: Junk collector, BBC
· http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120518-danger-space-junk-alert
· Weinberger.S (2012), Space Junk: Why it is time to clean up the skies: Snowball effect, BBC
· http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120518-danger-space-junk-alert