How much space junk clutters our galaxy?

Due to the amount of technology we have here on earth we don’t often think of how much of it is out there… out within our universe.

The number of satellites in space is 6,000 with approximately 800 of them being operational. We have had to extend outside the earth’s surface into the galaxy which has cause quite an amount of space junk. There are currently 19,000 objects that are larger than 10cm floating out in space and many smaller pieces as well that could actually do damage.

In the following infographic find out the facts about space junk, how much damage space debris can do and the most unusual objects that have been sent out to space.

yellow barrels of nuclear waste orbit the planet earth image via Shutterstock