What is the primary criterion defining an object as space debris?
Answer
Man-made material orbiting the Earth that no longer serves any useful purpose
The fundamental distinction for classifying material as space debris centers on its utility and origin. It must be material that was artificially created by humans and is currently orbiting the Earth but has ceased to serve any intended function. An active communications satellite is an asset, but the moment its fuel depletes or its systems fail, it transitions immediately into the classification of orbital debris because its usefulness has ended. This criterion separates active spacecraft and operational components from the accumulation of junk left behind from decades of space activities.
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