New research warns that space debris from rocket bodies orbiting Earth is posing an increased threat to aircraft. While the probability of a strike is low, the risk is rising due to increases in both the aviation industry and space flight industry.
There are approximately 50,000 pieces of space junk the size of a softball or larger floating near Earth, with millions more smaller objects. As these objects re-enter the atmosphere, they tend to ablate, breaking apart and turning into fine particulates.
The study focused on rocket bodies due to their size, which can pose significant risks to people on the ground, at sea, or in the air. Regions like Vancouver, Seattle, and the Eastern seaboard have a 25% chance each year of being disrupted by re-entry space debris.
Aviation officials will use this data to determine whether closing airspace is prudent, balancing the risk of disruption with potential economic consequences. The industry has taken steps to consider space debris in decision-making, such as Spain and France’s closure of some airspace in 2022 due to a 20-ton rocket body re-entering the atmosphere.
As risks rise, experts warn that disruptions will become more frequent. “This disruption is definitely happening, and it’s going to be happening more,” said Aaron Boley, co-author of the paper.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/falling-space-debris-increasingly-threatening-airplanes-researchers/story?id=118534247