It consists of nonfunctional, defunct manmade objects in space, mostly in Earth orbit. These include abandoned launch vehicle stages mission related debris, derelict spacecraft, nonfunctional spacecraft and fragmentation debris from the breakup of derelict rocket bodies and spacecraft. Other kinds of space debris include erosion, collisions, and even paint particles, in addition to abandoned man-made items left in orbit. Expelled solidified liquids from spacecraft, fragments of their breakdown, and unburned particles from solid rocket engines. Space debris represents a risk to spacecraft.
Current situation
Humans have managed to clutter a region known as low Earth orbit (LEO), which stretches from 125 to 1,200 miles above the surface of the planet.
The major threat of collisions will continue to escalate in low-earth orbit and polar orbits because the current reports claim, there is about six metric tons of space debris in earth orbit and about 45 % of that is in LEO. This process may lead to accumulation of more and more debris in the space creating a threat to the future space missions. It is because each debris has the capability of creating an avalanche of new debris in case of collision with any upper stage rocket or satellite. So, it’s high time that researchers should come up with the strategies to remove space debris as soon as possible.The longer we wait, the worse the issue will get.