Page 211 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 209

FAST FACTS
National space The satellites and junk in space are influenced
agencies have 6,515 objects by gravity, which pulls them into traveling in orbits
counted up the Russia (paths) around Earth.
number of large Earth
objects they 6,211 objects High Earth orbit 22,236 miles
have in space. USA (35,786 km) from Earth
In 2017, Russia Mid Earth orbit 1,240–22,236 miles
had the most. 3,839 objects (2,000–35,786 km) from Earth
China
Low Earth orbit up to 1,240
miles (2,000 km) from Earth

Satellites can be as close as
185 miles (300 km) from Earth,
or as far away as 22,500 miles
(36,000 km)—in a few cases,
even farther.

Some 95 percent of space
junk is debris that humans have
left in space, including old satellites,
used rocket parts, and fragments from
Space junk travels around erosion and collisions. The speed at which
Earth at speeds of up to they travel means even a speck of dust or
17,500 mph (28,100 kph). a fleck of paint can cause damage.

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