'Space junk' may cause flight delays as more satellites circle Earth

"The airspace is getting busier, but it isn't just commercial planes and other aircraft cluttering the skies. Flights are often delayed by bad weather, technical issues or industrial action and space junk might be another problem to contend with in the future too. Experts warn that debris from satellites is increasingly becoming a risk for planes to consider. As more satellites are launched and the number of commercial flights increase the possibility of matter causing issues is changing."

"There is a 26 per cent chance a year that an uncontrolled rocket re-entry - when a malfunctioning satellite returns to land unplanned - could happen, according to research by Scientific Reports. However, air traffic management company Eurocontrol explained to Euronews how the figure doesn't mean planes will come in contact with debris. Instead it refers to the chance of a falling rocket travelling through airspace used by planes."

"Earlier this year rocket Chinese Zhuque-3, that was launched in early December, crashed into the South Pacific Ocean after the UK was put on red alert for falling debris. If fragments of the falling rocket body were to land over the UK, an emergency alert system was ready to possibly be activated to warn residents about the risk. At the time, a UK government spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'It is extremely unlikely that any debris enters UK airspace."

Debris from satellites and uncontrolled rocket re-entries are becoming a factor for aviation safety. Research estimates a 26% annual chance that an uncontrolled rocket re-entry could pass through airspace used by aircraft. The probability of debris striking a passenger plane is estimated at about one in a million years. Precautionary airspace closures may be required and could quickly disrupt travel. Commercial air traffic is projected to grow about 2.4% per year up to 2050, increasing both aircraft presence and satellite launches. The Chinese Zhuque-3 rocket crash prompted a UK red alert and readiness of an emergency alert system.

Read at Mail Online