Photo Gallery
The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office has gathered pictures and graphics that are found here
in the photo gallery section and throughout the site. These pictures are considered open to
the public and may be freely viewed or downloaded, unless they are included with permission
of the copyright owner, and so noted. The pictures and graphics provide a visual insight into
the depth of orbital debris research.
Click on the small thumbnail image to view it in its full size. To download an image, right
click on the desired image and select Save Picture As... from the menu option of your
browser.
Graphics
The following graphics are computer generated images of objects in Earth orbit that are currently being tracked. Approximately 95% of the objects in this illustration are orbital debris, i.e., not functional satellites. The dots represent the current location of each item.
The orbital debris dots are scaled according to the image size of the graphic to optimize
their visibility and are not scaled to Earth. These images provide a good visualization of
where the greatest orbital debris populations exist.
Below are the graphics generated from
different observation points, as of January 1, 2019. Choose from small, medium, large, and
extra large file sizes. To see the debris in motion, check out our video:
LEO stands for low Earth orbit and is the region of space within 2,000 km
of the Earth's surface. It is the most concentrated area for orbital debris.
Credit: NASA ODPO.
High Resolution JPGs
The GEO images are images generated from a distant oblique vantage
point to provide a good view of the object population in the
geosynchronous region (~35,785 km altitude). Credit: NASA ODPO.
High Resolution JPGs
The GEO Polar images are generated from a vantage point above the north pole,
showing the concentrations of objects in LEO and in the geosynchronous region.
Credit: NASA ODPO.
High Resolution JPGs
Radar
Cobra Dane radar located on Shemya Island, AK. This phased
array radar can detect and track objects as small as 5 cm
and is a contributing sensor to the U.S. satellite catalog.
Credit: AFRL.
70-m Goldstone antenna located near Barstow, CA. When operated as a
bi-static radar, Goldstone is capable of detecting 2 mm debris at
altitudes below 1,000 km. Credit: NASA JPL.
Eglin FPS-85 radar located near Ft. Walton Beach, FL. This phased
array radar is a dedicated sensor to the U.S. satellite catalog.
Credit: NASA ODPO.
Telescopes
Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site. This optical sensor
suite includes the 3.67-m Advance Electro-Optical System (AEOS) telescope.
Credit: AFRL (AMOS Site Factsheet OPS-17-13034 approved for public release).
Advance Electro-Optical System (AEOS) located at Air Force Maui
Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) site on top of Haleakala volcano,
Maui, HI. Credit: AFRL/RDS/MSSC/RA Fugate.
Impacts
Overhead imagery looking into an impact through-hole on Bay 5 multi-layer insulation (MLI). Left image is focused closest to observer, right image is focused on the exit hole. Credit: NASA ODPO.
A cross-sectional image of an impact crater on Bay 5 multi-layer insulation (MLI). Credit: NASA ODPO.
After in-space repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope,
the returned parts show many orbital debris impacts.
Credit: NASA.
Mir Environmental Effects Payload (MEEP) Orbital Debris Collector
(ODC) was exposed
to the space environment for
18 months. Credit: NASA.
to the space environment for
18 months. Credit: NASA.
Reentry
This is the main propellant tank of the second stage of a Delta 2
launch vehicle which landed near Georgetown, TX, on 22 January 1997.
Credit: NASA ODPO.
This 30 kg titanium pressurant tank also survived the reentry of the
Delta 2 second stage but was found farther downrange near Seguin, TX.
Credit: Space Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.