Space junk is making a dangerous mess of our solar system

06:14

February 09, 2022

NASA says the International Space Station remains at increased risk from orbiting debris following Russian weapons test. On Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, Russia used a missile to destroy a satellite in an orbit just above the space station. (NASA/AP)

Decades of space travel have left space filled with dangerous debris.

Some of this space junk — ranging from tiny to the size of a school bus — is orbiting at more than 17,000 miles per hour and causing headaches and near-misses that will only become more of an issue with a huge uptick in space launches and more satellites.

Host Scott Tong speaks with The Washington Post's NASA and space reporter, Christian Davenport.

This segment aired on February 9, 2022.