A Pentagon report warned that space is so littered with debris that a collision between satellites could set off an "uncontrolled chain reaction" capable of destroying the communications network on Earth.

Global Aerospace Corporation (GAC) announced recently that Dr Kristin L Gates will present a paper on de-orbiting space junk at the August 2 Artificial and Natural Space Debris session of the AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The major powers of the world are being called upon to clean up space “litter” that is becoming increasingly dangerous for spacecraft.

Two satellites collided in orbit on Tuesday, prompting NASA to announce it to be the first collision of its kind in space.

A successful Chinese missile test last year that destroyed one of its own aging satellites has substantially added to space debris around Earth, increasing the danger that a chain reaction of colliding space junk could threaten parts of the world's satellite network, scientists said last week.