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Bigger risk of being killed by falling space rocket

Falling Rockets - Level 0

Have you ever worried about a rocket hitting you? This is not one of life's big worries. However, we may have to start worrying. Scientists say that in the next ten years, a piece of space junk could kill someone. Space is crowded with junk. The scientists want rocket companies to control how space junk comes back to Earth.

The scientists looked at the risk of space junk hitting someone. A record 133 rockets went into space in 2021. Over 60 per cent of them circle the earth for years. They then break up and fall back to Earth. The junk is more likely to hit someone in the Global South. The scientists say companies are putting poorer nations at risk.

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Falling Rockets - Level 1

Have you ever worried about a rocket hitting you on the head? This is not one of life's big worries. There is an almost zero chance of this happening. However, that is changing. Scientists say that in the next ten years, a part of a rocket could fall from space and kill someone. Space is becoming crowded with space junk. The scientists want rocket companies to be more responsible. They want them to control how space junk re-enters our atmosphere.

The scientists looked at the risk of space junk hitting someone. A record 133 rockets went into space in 2021. That record will be broken this year. Over 60 per cent of rockets are abandoned in space. These circle the earth for years before they break up and fall back down. Space junk is more likely to hit someone in the Global South. However, most rockets are launched from the Global North. The scientists say companies are "exporting risk" to poorer nations.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Falling Rockets - Level 2

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Have you ever worried about a rocket hitting you on the head? This is not high on the list of life's worries. The chance of some space junk hitting us is almost zero. However, that is changing. Scientists say that in the next ten years, there is a growing likelihood that a rocket part could fall from space and kill someone. More countries are sending more rockets into space, so space is becoming crowded. The scientists want nations and rocket companies to be more responsible. They want them to control how rocket parts re-enter our atmosphere.

The scientists researched the number of rockets in space, and the risk of someone being hit by falling debris. There were a record 133 rocket launches in 2021. That record will be broken this year. Scientists say over 60 per cent of rockets are abandoned in space. These abandoned spacecraft can circle the earth for years before they break up and fall back down. Rocket parts are more likely to hit someone in the Global South. However, most rockets are launched from the Global North. The scientists say countries and companies are "exporting risk to the rest of the world".

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Falling Rockets - Level 3

Have you ever worried about debris from a falling rocket hitting you on the head? That scenario has never been high on the list of life's worries. The chances of a piece of space junk hitting us were almost zero. However, that is changing. Scientists say there is a growing likelihood that rocket parts falling back to Earth could hit and kill someone in the next ten years. This is because more countries are sending more rockets into space. Scientists say space is becoming congested. They are calling on nations and companies that send rockets into space to be more responsible. They want them to control the reentry of any rocket parts floating in the lower atmosphere.

Scientists in Canada did research on the number of rockets launched into space, and the risk of people being hit by falling debris. There were 133 rocket launches in 2021. That was a record. It looks like that record will be broken this year. The scientists said more than 60 per cent of rockets are abandoned in space after they release their satellites. The abandoned spacecraft can circle the earth for years before they fall back down. A key finding of the research is that rocket parts are more likely to hit somewhere (or someone) in the Global South. However, most rockets are launched from the Global North. The scientists say countries and companies are "exporting risk to the rest of the world".

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