SYDNEY — The mass of derelict rocket upper stages being left in low Earth orbit each year exceeds the amount left 20-plus years ago, often clustered in the same region, despite decades of non-binding rules urging that they be brought down to avoid debris-creating collisions, according to Darren McKnight, senior technical fellow at space surveillance company LeoLabs.
McKnight, who has a long history assessing orbital-debris issues, said the practice of leaving rocket upper stages in orbit after they deposit their satellites, coupled with the increased number of large . . .
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