A Beehive of Satellites

Credit: European Space Agency, Posted on: Friday, 13 February 2009, 07:14 CST Download full size image

The launch of the first artificial satellite by the then Soviet Union in 1957 marked the beginning of the utilization of space for science and commercial activity. During the Cold War, space was a prime area of competition between the Soviet Union and the U.S.

In 1964 the first TV satellite was launched into a geostationary orbit to transmit the Olympic games from Tokyo. Later, Russian launch activities declined while other nations set up their own space programs. Thus, the number of objects in Earth orbit has increased steadily -- by 200 per year on average.

The debris objects shown in the images are an artist's impression based on actual density data. However, the debris objects are shown at an exaggerated size to make them visible at the scale shown.

More Images

Mars
Examining 'Marquette Island'.NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used the wire brush of its rock abrasion tool during the r...

---

Universe
Mercury in True and Enhanced Color.During MESSENGER's third Mercury flyby, the WAC captured images through all 11 of its narrow-band co...

---