Could all these satellites trap us on Earth?

When the Soviets launched the first satellite nearly 70 years ago, nobody predicted space would become so crowded that we would worry about being trapped by our own technology. Subscribe ► youtube.com
For millenia, Earth’s orbit has been vast and empty – free from the impact of busy humans below, scurrying around on the surface of the planet. But that changed in 1957 when the Soviets launched Sputnik 1, sending a metal ball with four radio antennas so high and speeding so fast that it would reach such a velocity as to spin in orbit around Earth. As the space race accelerated, more and more satellites entered space. By the end of the 1970s, more than 14,000 tracked objects had been launched. Today, Earth’s orbit is packed with thousands of satellites and fragments – about 32,000 in total – all circling the planet at immense speed. As part of our series Crowded Space, Guardian visuals editor Ashley Kirk explains how all these satellites could spiral out of control. Head to link in bio for more coverage on our shifting relationship with space. Visuals by Frederick O’Brien, Prina Shah and Oliver Holmes. #crowdedspace #kesslersyndrome #space #earth #spaceexploration