Real-time map of every object in Earth’s orbit shows shocking amount of debris

A real-time, interactive, 3D, world map that shows all of the satellites and (a slightly worrying amount of) orbital rubbish around Earth is every space nerd’s dream.

‘Stuff in Space’ is an online map that uses data from a US Department of Defense website, Space Track, to monitor every item over 10 cm in orbit around Earth, except for top-secret military satellites, naturally. 

You can search by satellite name or simply get lost roaming around the interactive Earth map. One thing that stands out is the more than 21,000 pieces of ‘orbital debris’ which “no longer serve a useful purpose”. 

Orbital debris ranges from derelict spacecraft to debris released during spacecraft separations from their launch vehicles or during mission operations.

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