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The area around Tiangong contains a mix of ancient Russian debris, much of which has not been meticulously tracked or maintained for decades. Despite advances in space tracking, the sheer volume of objects makes avoiding collisions exceptionally challenging. Notably, the vicinity of this orbit hosts over 6,000 Starlink satellites—more than all other satellites combined—making it one of the most congested regions in space.
Historical Background and the Dangers of Space Junk
Looking back, China’s own history in space debris includes the shooting down of a satellite called FY-1 around 15 years ago. This act created approximately 15,000 fragments, with around 2,000 still orbiting dangerously. These fragments pose ongoing risks to spacecraft operating at similar altitudes, like Tiangong.