And it's not just decommissioned satellites. According to Australian Government astronomer, Dr. James Biggs, other types of debris have appeared over the years due to, well, our rather cavalier approach to space activities. Biggs says that extra-vehicular activity (EVA), repairs to spacecraft, nuclear testing and crude anti-satellite technology tested during the 80s and 90s have all contributed to the rocket casings, fairings, nuts and bolts, flecks of paint, gloves, tools and other potentially lethal bits of shrapnel currently orbiting the Earth.
And when one of those objects succumbs to Earth's gravity well and crashes somewhere, leaving a trail of smoke across the sky -- bam! -- we've got another "Roswell incident."
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