How Much Trash Is In Space?

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

An astronaut in space waves while surrounded by floating plastic debris including bottles, a bag, a straw, and a plate near Earth's orbit.

How Much Trash Is In Space?: Media

You might think we humans keep all our trash on the ground, but it turns out we’re pretty industrious about littering.

Videos

An astronaut in space waves while surrounded by floating plastic debris including bottles, a bag, a straw, and a plate near Earth's orbit.

Should We Be Worried About Space Trash?

Space is the world's largest garbage dump.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

Space debris

Space debris

An assortment of space debris orbiting the Earth.

© dottedhippo—iStock/Getty Images