List of space debris fall incidents

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/list-of-space-debris-fall-incidents

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is space junk?Space junk is old rockets, satellites, and other pieces of equipment that no longer work and float in space. They are made of metal, plastic, and other materials that astronauts and scientists have left behind.
2. How often does space junk fall back to Earth?On average, one piece of space junk comes back to Earth every day for the past 50 years. Scientists watch the sky to keep track of these objects.

Orbital Decay: The gradual decrease in an object's altitude in orbit, often due to atmospheric drag.
Aerodynamic Heating: The increase in temperature of an object due to friction with the air during high-speed motion.
Debris Mitigation: Strategies and technologies designed to reduce the creation of new space debris and manage existing debris.