Experts believe that in the next 20β30 years the number of collisions between spacecraft and other objects in orbit will increase significantly due to the worsening problem of space debris.
The first destruction of an object in space was recorded in 1961, that is, almost 60 years ago. Since then, as reported by TsNIIMash (part of the Roscosmos state corporation), about 250 similar events have occurred. It should be noted that space objects in this case include not only satellites, but also spent stages of launch vehicles and upper stages.
The cause of destruction is either collisions of objects with each other, or explosions due to accidents and abnormal operation of on-board systems.
Last year, as experts note, 23 dangerous encounters between spacecraft and other objects in low-Earth orbit were recorded. In 20β30 years, experts believe, the number of annual collisions may increase to the same figure.
Meanwhile, an increase in the number of collisions will lead to further littering of near-Earth space. By Roscosmos, currently the number of space debris objects in orbit, the size of which exceeds one centimeter in diameter, is, according to various sources, from 600 to 700 thousand.
Source: 3dnews.ru