List of space debris producing events


Major contributors to space debris include the explosion of upper stages and satellite collisions.

Overview

There were 190 known satellite breakups between 1961 and 2006.
By 2015, the total had grown to 250 on-orbit fragmentation events.
there were an estimated 500,000 pieces of debris in orbit, with 300,000 pieces below 2000 km. Of the total, about 20,000 are tracked. Also, about sixteen old Soviet nuclear space reactors are known to have released an estimated 100,000 NaK liquid metal coolant droplets 800–900 km up, which range in size from 1–6 cm.
The greatest risk to space missions is from untracked debris between 1 and 10 cm in size. Large pieces can be tracked and avoided, and impact from smaller pieces are usually survivable.

Recent events

DateObjectInternational DesignationCauseTotal PiecesPieces in OrbitReentered Pieces as of Dec 2022
August 31, 2018Centaur V upper stage2014-055BUnknown1071070
December 22, 2018ORBCOMM FM-161998-046EEnergetic fragmentation; Probably caused by left over propellent1358
January 24, 2019Microsat-R2019-006AASAT weapon system test1290129
February 6, 2019H2-A 202 Rocket Body2018-084LUnknown; Third known breakup of an H-2A Rocket Body606
February 6, 2019H2-A 202 Payload Adapter2018-084EEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause Unknown303
April 2019Centaur V Rocket Body2018-079BEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause Unknown1931921
May 7, 2019Titan IIIC Transtage rocket body1976-023FEnergetic fragmentation event by caused the overheating of leftover anhydrous hydrazine Mono Propellant???
August 19, 2019SOZ ullage motor from a Proton Block DM fourth stage2010-041HEnergetic fragmentation event; caused by left over fuel in the ullage motor. 30th fragmentation event of a SOZ unit. 34 intact units remain in orbit23230
August 13, 2019Ariane 42P third stage rocket body1992-052DUnknown10100
December 23, 2019Kosmos 24912013-076EUnknown~20~200
May 8, 2020Fregat tank2011-037BUnknown, possibly explosion34628066
July 12, 2020H2-A 202 Fairing2018-084CCollision with untracked debris1235118
March 18, 2021Yunhai-1 022019-063AAccidental collision with a fragment from the Zenit-2 rocket body that launched Tselina-2 in 1996.392019
November 15, 2021Kosmos 14081982-092AASAT weapon system test17873941393
November 12, 2022Long March 6A upper stage2022-151BUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.78172259
November 17, 2022H2-A 202 Payload fairing2012-025FEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause unknown50+50+0
January 4, 2023Kosmos 24992014-028EUnknown85850
March 11, 2023Orbcomm F361999-065EUnknown; likely energetic fragmentation event caused by a malfunction in the hydrazine orbit adjust system770
August 21, 2023Vega VV02 VESPA adapter2013-021DUnknown; likely debris impact770
June 26, 2024Resurs-P No.12013-030AUnknown; but may be related to improper spacecraft passivization10019?
July 4, 2024Long March 6A upper stage2024-126CUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.440?
August 6, 2024Long March 6A upper stage2024-140UUnknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.700+663?
September 6, 2024Atlas V Centaur upper stage2018-022BUnknown;843+843?
October 19, 2024Intelsat 33e2016-053BUnknown; potential threat to all spacecraft in geostationary orbit, including the Russian satellites, Ekspress-AT1, Yamal-402, Ekspress-AM6 and Elektro-L;1104+1104?
February 9, 2025New Glenn upper stage+Blue Ring2025-011AEnergetic fragmentation event; Cause Unknown; but may be related to upper stage passivization or insulation.67670