Dr. Elizabeth Stratton Responds: Understanding Space Junk and the Coyote 7 Mars Mission

Hello, everyone! I’m Dr. Elizabeth Stratton, Mission Commander for Coyote 7, where our incredible team is preparing to travel to Mars to establish a colony. I recently received a fascinating question about space junk, and I’m thrilled to share some insights with you. Space junk—also known as orbital debris—is a critical topic for anyone interested in space exploration, and it’s something we’ve carefully considered as we plan our journey to the Red Planet. So, let’s dive in: What is space junk? How did it get there? How much is out there, where is it, what dangers does it pose, and what precautions are we taking aboard Coyote 7? Oh, and how fast is this stuff moving? I’ll break it all down for you.

What Is Space Junk?

Space junk refers to the human-made objects orbiting Earth that no longer serve a purpose. Think of it as the litter of the space age—defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from collisions, and even tiny flecks of paint or bolts. Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, humanity has been leaving traces of our cosmic adventures behind. For our Coyote 7 team, understanding space junk is essential because it’s part of the environment we’ll navigate on our way to Mars.

Most of this debris comes from satellites that have reached the end of their lives or from accidental breakups—like when two satellites collide or a rocket stage explodes due to leftover fuel. If you’re curious about the specifics, NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office offers a great overview of how this debris accumulates. Even a piece smaller than a marble can cause serious trouble, which I’ll explain when we discuss speed and dangers.

A Brief History of Space Junk

The story of space junk begins with the dawn of the space race. When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, it marked humanity’s first step into orbit—and the first piece of potential debris. Over the decades, thousands of launches followed, from the Apollo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) era. By the 1970s, scientists started noticing the growing clutter in Earth’s orbit. A pivotal moment came in 2009 when a defunct Russian satellite, Cosmos 2251, smashed into an active Iridium satellite, creating over 2,000 trackable fragments. This event underscored how space junk could multiply exponentially. For a deeper dive into this history, check out ESA’s Space Debris page.

Today, with private companies like SpaceX launching constellations of satellites, the problem is evolving. For our teen prodigies on Coyote 7, this history reminds us that space isn’t a pristine frontier—it’s a shared space we must manage responsibly.

How Much Space Junk Is Out There?

So, just how much space junk are we dealing with? According to the European Space Agency, as of early 2025, there are over 36,500 objects larger than 10 centimeters (about the size of a softball) being tracked in Earth’s orbit. That’s just the big stuff! When you include smaller debris—between 1 and 10 centimeters—estimates jump to around 1 million pieces. And for tiny particles less than 1 centimeter? We’re talking hundreds of millions. The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracks many of these objects and shares data publicly if you’d like to explore the numbers yourself.

For perspective, if you could see all this debris from Earth, it’d look like a faint, shimmering cloud encircling our planet. For Coyote 7, this means our path to Mars will take us through a region where every piece, no matter how small, could be a hazard.

Where Is Space Junk Located?

Space junk isn’t scattered randomly—it clusters in specific orbits. The most crowded area is Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which extends up to about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) above Earth. This is where most satellites, including the ISS, operate, so it’s a hotspot for debris. Another busy zone is Geostationary Orbit (GEO), around 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) up, where communication satellites often park.

For Coyote 7, our trajectory to Mars will carry us through LEO during launch, but once we’re on our interplanetary course, the risk of encountering debris drops significantly. Still, that initial phase is critical, and we’re prepared for it.

How Fast Is Space Junk Moving?

Now, let’s talk speed—because this is where space junk gets truly wild. In LEO, debris travels at speeds averaging 7 to 8 kilometers per second (about 17,500 miles per hour). That’s fast enough to circle Earth in under two hours! Even a tiny fragment moving at that velocity carries enormous kinetic energy. For comparison, a bullet from a handgun moves at about 0.4 kilometers per second—space junk is 20 times faster.

This speed is why our Coyote 7 team takes space junk so seriously. A collision with even a small piece could be catastrophic, which brings us to the dangers it poses.

What Dangers Does Space Junk Pose?

The primary danger of space junk is its potential to collide with spacecraft. At those incredible speeds, a 1-centimeter fragment could punch through a hull or shatter a solar panel. Larger objects—like a defunct satellite—could destroy a mission entirely. For the ISS, crews have had to maneuver out of the way of debris multiple times, and in 2021, a small piece even struck its robotic arm, leaving a hole. You can read more about that incident on Space.com.

For Coyote 7, the stakes are high. Our teen prodigies are heading to Mars to build a colony, and we can’t afford damage to our spacecraft. Beyond physical risks, space junk complicates navigation—mission planners must constantly track debris to avoid it. There’s also a long-term concern: if debris keeps accumulating, it could trigger Kessler Syndrome, a cascade of collisions that makes orbits unusable. That’s a future we’re working to prevent.

Precautions Aboard Coyote 7

So, what are we doing about space junk on Coyote 7? Our team has engineered a multi-layered approach to keep our Mars-bound prodigies safe. First, our spacecraft is equipped with shielding—think of it as an armored shell. We use Whipple shields, a design with layered materials that break up incoming debris before it can penetrate critical systems. It’s lightweight but incredibly effective against small, high-speed objects. For more on this technology, take a look at NASA’s explanation of Whipple shields.

Second, we rely on real-time tracking from ground teams. Organizations like NASA and the U.S. Space Force monitor over 27,000 pieces of debris, and we’ll get updates during our launch window to adjust our trajectory if needed. Our navigation systems are also designed to detect and avoid larger objects autonomously, giving us an extra layer of protection as we exit LEO.

Finally, we’re contributing to the solution. Coyote 7’s launch vehicle is designed to deorbit itself after deployment, ensuring we don’t add to the junk problem. Our teen prodigies have even brainstormed ways to clean up space in the future—ideas we hope to test once our Mars colony is established.

Why This Matters for Our Mars Colony

Space junk might seem like an Earth-specific issue, but it’s part of the bigger picture for Coyote 7. Our mission isn’t just about reaching Mars—it’s about building a sustainable presence in space. By tackling challenges like debris now, we’re setting the stage for a future where humanity can explore and colonize responsibly. Our teen prodigies are passionate about this, and I’m proud to lead a team that’s thinking beyond our immediate journey.

Final Thoughts

I hope this answers your question about space junk! It’s a fascinating challenge—one that blends history, science, and engineering. From its origins in the space race to the millions of pieces whizzing around Earth at breakneck speeds, space junk is a reminder of our past and a call to action for our future. On Coyote 7, we’re taking every precaution to ensure our Mars colony mission succeeds, and we’re excited to share more updates with you as we go.

If you’ve got more questions—about space junk, Mars, or our incredible teen prodigies—feel free to ask. I love hearing from curious minds, and I’m happy to shed light on our adventure. Until next time, keep looking up!

Warm regards,

Dr. Elizabeth Stratton

Mission Commander, Coyote 7