---
title: "The Space Debris Problem: Dual Impact in Myanmar Shows What’s to Come"
description: "NASA estimates there are more than 500,000 pieces of debris currently floating at speeds of up to 28,162 km/h (17,500 mph) around the Earth. Two pieces of space debris crashed in Myanmar last Thursday that are likely either parts from an aircraft, a missile, a fallen satellite, or Tiangong-1."
date: "2016-11-14"
modified: "2016-11-28"
authors:
  - name: "Dom Galeon"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/domgaleon.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-space-debris-problem-dual-impact-in-myanmar-shows-whats-to-come"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "chinese space junk"
  - "myanmar debris"
  - "space debris crash"
  - "space junk"
---

# The Space Debris Problem: Dual Impact in Myanmar Shows What’s to Come

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Massive-space-junk-with-Chinese-writing-crashes-in-Myanmar.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/mandalay-upper-myanmar/23626-unidentified-falling-object-in-hpakant.html" target="\_blank"\> Supplied / Ko Muang Myo/Myanmartimes\</a\>\</em\>*

## Dual Impact

A mining facility in northern Myanmar became the crash site of a huge piece of space debris last Thursday. As the impact occurred, a smaller piece of debris with Chinese markings on it simultaneously destroyed the roof of a house in a nearby village. Fortunately, no one was injured in either incident.

The larger object is barrel-shaped and measures about 4.5 meters (15 ft) long, with a diameter barely over a meter. "The metal objects are assumed to be part of a satellite or the engine parts of a plane or missile," [a local news report said](<https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-debris-crash-lands-northern-myanmar-state-media-023923703.html>). The Chinese government is neither confirming nor denying whether both pieces of space junk came from the same object.

![Credits: Global New Light](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/junk_myanmar-980x420.jpg>)
**Global New Light, Myanmar**

While there may be not confirmation yet, it's worth noting that just last month the Chinese [Tiangong-1](<https://futurism.com/tiangong-1-chinas-space-station-is-going-to-crash-and-reenter-earths-atmosphere.md>) spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere. It's possible that these debris may be part of it.

This incident points to the ever growing problem of space junk and debris surrounding our planet. [NASA estimates](<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html>) there are more than 500,000 pieces of debris currently floating at speeds of up to 28,162 km/h (17,500 mph) around the Earth.

## Dangerous Debris

Space junk accumulation is a product of humanity's space exploration projects. These debris come mostly from old, decommissioned satellites or discarded parts of shuttles. Because they move quickly, they present dangers to the [International Space Station](<https://futurism.com/nasa-just-released-a-stunning-4k-resolution-tour-of-the-international-space-station.md>) and other working satellites, as well as space shuttles or other human transport space vehicles.

These could also crash into the Earth without warning, like what happened in Myanmar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O64KM4GuRPk&feature=youtu.be

Fortunately, efforts are in the works to deal with our space junk problem, such as [using lasers or dust clouds](<https://futurism.com/what-are-the-long-term-plans-to-deal-with-space-junk.md>). One group from Switzerland even proposed sending a satellite equipped with a special type of net to collect space debris. While these efforts are commendable, a more comprehensive solution to the issue is needed – one where each country that's contributed to space junk allots resources to cleaning it up.

If we want to send humans to Mars or to make (near-)space tourism possible, we have to make sure space rockets are safe from potentially destructive space junk in our orbit.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-john-galeon-9b086925/>)  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/domgaleon>)

## More

- [Researchers Propose Using Lasers to Zap Potentially Dangerous Space Debris](<https://futurism.com/researchers-propose-using-lasers-zap-potentially-dangerous-space-debris.md>)
- [UK Researchers Just Deployed a Massive Net to Catch Space Debris](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/removedebris-space-debris.md>)
- [Expert Not Convinced Mysterious, 8-Foot Ring of “Space Junk” in Kenya Actually Came from Space](<https://futurism.com/metal-ring-kenya-space-junk.md>)
- [Boeing Satellite Exploded Into at Least 500 Pieces of Debris](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/boeing-satellite-500-pieces-debris.md>)
- [500,000 Pieces of Space Junk Are Orbiting the Earth. Here’s How We Can Get Rid of Them.](<https://futurism.com/500000-pieces-space-junk-orbiting-earth-get-rid.md>)
- [Russian Rocket Disintegrates in Space, Leaving Orbital Debris](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/russian-rocket-disintegrates-space-leaving-orbital-debris.md>)
- [Two Large Chunks of Space Debris Just Almost Collided in an Epic Disaster](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/large-chunks-space-debris-almost-collided.md>)
- [ISS Forced to Dodge Debris From Chinese Anti-Satellite Weapon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/iss-dodge-debris-satellite-weapon.md>)