There are a lot of satellites, and a lot of trash, around our planet — and the quantities are only going to get higher.

The satellite quickly burnt up as it passed ... As this space junk falls through Earth's atmosphere, most if not all of the components will break off and burn up, leading to little risk for ...

5,000-pound satellite malfunctioned right after launch in December 2006 It has a full tank of fuel and could dispense deadly fumes if it hits Earth If satellite falls to Earth it could leave a ...

The cause of the strange blue spiral is actually a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that blasted off from Space Launch Complex 40 ...

The shape is thought to be the result of leftover fuel released into space as the Falcon 9 rocket returned to Earth.

A camera at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii has captured an object as it burned up on re-entering Earth's atmosphere ... It is thought it could be a Chinese satellite called Object K.

If the satellite is launched fast enough it never falls to Earth. Above a speed of 8000m/s the surface of the Earth curves away just as fast as the satellite falls due to gravity pulling on it.

POES satellites orbit the earth 14 times each day at an altitude of approximately 520 miles (870 km). As each orbit is made the satellite can view a 1,600 mile (2,700 km) wide area of the earth.