Since the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957, more than 4,200 launches have placed some 5500 satellites into orbit. Currently about 700 satellites are used operationally for science and other applications. Space debris comprise the ever-increasing amount of inactive space hardware in orbit around the Earth as well as fragments of spacecraft that have broken up, exploded or otherwise become abandoned.
Spatial density of objects around Earth - The most of catalogued objects are in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Credits:
ESA
ID number:
SEMV0OK26DF
HI-RES JPG size:
969 kb
HI-RES TIFF size:
5818 kb
Description
80% of all catalogued objects are in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which extends to 2000 km above the earth's surface. To observe the Earth spacecraft must be at such a low altitude and furthermore access for satellites as well as astronauts is easier. The spatial density of objects increases at high latitudes.
