What is the estimated total population of space debris currently orbiting Earth by mass?
Answer
Over 6,600 tons
The estimated total mass of human-made debris currently orbiting the planet amounts to slightly over 6,600 tons. This significant weight highlights the scale of the orbital pollution problem. This quantity encompasses everything from large, defunct rocket bodies down to microscopic particles, all contributing to the cumulative mass hazard in near-Earth space. Understanding the total mass provides context for the overall kinetic energy present in the orbital environment.
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