Debris in Orbit: The Unseen Consequences of China's Spy Satellite Failure The recent breakup of China's Yaogan 50 (02) satellite has left a trail of debris in its wake, but the long term implications are far more concerning.
As fragments from the failed reconnaissance satellite linger in orbit for centuries to come, it is clear that our addiction to space exploration comes with significant consequences.
Yaogan 50 (02) was placed into a highly retrograde orbit by China's Long March 6A rocket, approximately 590 miles above Earth.