Number of space debris objects

Image from ESA's Space Environment Report 2022. [PL = Payload (usually one or many satellites that a rocket launches to space); PF = Payload Fragmentation Debris; PD = Payload Debris; PM = Payload Mission Related Object; RB = Rocket Body; RF = Rocket Fragmentation Debris; RD = Rocket Debris; RM = Rocket Mission Related Object; UI = Unidentified.]

The amount of space debris in orbit continues to rise.

More than 30 000 pieces of space debris have been recorded and are regularly tracked by space surveillance networks. As our technology improves, we are spotting an increasing number of unidentified objects (UI). Due to the time elapsed between their creation and our observation, it is difficult to trace their origins to a specific “fragmentation event”.

Based on ESA models, the true number of objects larger than 1 cm in size is likely over one million.

More on ESA's 2022 Space Environment Report.