When man-made objects are left to orbit space when they no longer correctly function, this coins the term of space debris - or space junk. Whether it’s an abandoned mobile launch platform, fragmentation debris or the remains of an abandoned space shuttle, there are thousands of pieces of space junk currently orbiting the earth.
Not only does this debris travel fast enough to damage a spacecraft or satellite, it can also affect space vehicles that humans are travelling in.
The graphic below reveals it all.