Analyst on China's spent rocket stages: "Things only continue to get worse"
Summary
China has greatly increased its rocket launches, reaching a record 93 launches last year. However, China is leaving many large rocket parts in long-lasting orbits, which can create space debris and risks for other space activities.Key Facts
- China launched 64 rockets in 2022 and 93 in 2023, making it the second-most active space launcher after the U.S.
- Many Chinese rocket upper stages (parts that push satellites into orbit) remain in long-lived orbits instead of being safely removed.
- Other countries and companies have started following better practices to dispose of spent rocket stages to reduce space debris.
- Russia has the most rocket debris mass in orbit, but its amount is slowly declining.
- China’s debris mass from spent rocket stages grew from less than 100 metric tons to 252 metric tons in five years.
- China is planning to launch thousands of rockets over the next decade to build large satellite groups called megaconstellations.
- Rocket bodies are large, unsteerable objects in space that can cause collisions, unlike satellites that can move to avoid danger.
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