Space Junk

The most expansive garbage dump is, without a doubt, space. According to Space.com, it is estimated that there is approximately 4 million pounds of space junk orbiting the Earth. That weight is made up of over 110,000 objects 1 centimeter or above. Some of these items fall back to Earth and appear like meteors hitting Earth’s atmosphere.

Some of this junk poses a danger to space travelers. In fact, a tiny speck of paint from a satellite once dug a pit in a space shuttle window nearly a quarter-inch wide. This space junk is a treat to the International Space station.

So what does 4 million pounds of junk look like? Well it would be approximately 310 fully-grown bull elephants, or 60 Humpback Whales. Come to think of it, both species might be safer in space then they are on Earth!