Analysis
Decayed Objects by Country
Every year, hundreds of satellites decay from orbit and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. This graph shows the number of decayed objects by country, including the United States, Russia, China, and members of the European Space Agency.
Country-Specific Impact
For countries that frequently launch to GEO, such as the United States, Russia, China, and members of the European Space Agency, the remnants of these launches (particularly the rocket bodies and shrouds) add to their tally of decayed space objects. These objects are catalogued and tracked, and their presence is a factor in assessing each country's contribution to space debris.
2021 ASAT Testing
In November 2021, Russia conducted an ASAT test by destroying one of its own defunct satellites, Cosmos 1408, a Soviet-era spy satellite. This test resulted in the satellite breaking into numerous pieces. Many of these pieces have since decayed.