Every satellite in orbit is threatened by any of the over 150.000 particles of space debris that populate the near-Earth sapce and are remnants of past satellites and launcher missions. Even a miniscule particle can cause huge damage because its speed is 28000 km/hour - ten times that of a bullet and hundred times its energy. Today, the danger is real that the more satellites are launched, the more debris accumulates.
On 19-21 March 2001, experts from around the world will gather at the 3rd European Conference on Space Debris at the Eropean Space Agency's Operations Centre, ESOC in Darmstadt (Germany). They will discuss likely causes of space debris, its potential danger and means to avoide it.
The worst cause of space debris is exploding upper rocket stages and satellites. This can be avoided by careful design, where such objects are depressureised after use. The, the geo-stationary orbit 36000 km above the Earh, where all television satellites are positioned, is getting ever more crowded. Satellites

10:00:00 Title ""Third European Conference on Space Debris""
10:10:00 GV's ESA Operations Centre ESOC, Darmstadt (Germany)
10:10:23 3-D Graphics accumulation of debris from 1957 to 2000
10:10:46 3-D Graphics satellite in orbit (Meteosat)
10:10:57 3-D Graphics ejection of lid from satellite
10:11:02 3-D graphics explosion launcher upper satge
10:11:20 3-D grahpics debris detaching form outer surface Hubble Space Telescope
10:11:34 3-D graphics impacts of debris on solar cells Hubble Space Telescope
10:11:37 Photos of impact craters of solar cells
10:11:55 3-D graphics replacement ejected lid by retractable lid on Meteosat
10:12:03 3-D graphics depressurisation launcher upper stage
10:12:16 3-D graphicsprotection against particle detachment from outer surfaces
10:12:22 3-D graphics de-orbiting space station Mir
10:12:42 3-D graphics of putting a satellite into a graveyard orbit.