Space Junk

What has left tons of "space junk" in orbit around the earth?

• robots sent on space missions

• years of space exploration

• lack of recycling

• missiles in outer space

There are more than 22,000 pieces of junk in space around the earth. There are also millions of smaller pieces of junk that we can't see.

• True

• False

What happens when two objects in space collide?

• They bounce off of each other and there is no damage.

• They fall to Earth safely.

• The two objects break into many smaller pieces.

• They float away until they are hit by other space matter.

To help minimize additional space junk, countries have agreed to:

• No longer go into space.

• Build a machine to clean up the space junk

• Let others know they will be going into space and to avoid any junk.

• Limit the time their space tools stay in orbit to 25 years.

What is being tested in England to clean up space junk?

• A metal harpoon to grip the trash and pull the space junk into the earth's atmosphere where it will burn up.

• Robots to collect the pieces of trash

• A missile to blow up the older satellites

• A large roomba-type piece of equipment that floats around space cleaning up space junk.

Which country tried to blow up one of its older satellites with a missile, but only created thousands of smaller pieces?

• USA

• Germany

• China

• England

Why is it urgent to solve the problem of space junk?

• If we don't, the world might end.

• Because more and more objects are being sent into space and most of these are tools that help people use their cell phones or computers.

• So countries will get along better

• It is not urgent.

What was the passage mostly about?

• different missions scientists are trying in space

• the effects that tiny pieces of space junk could have on the earth

• the problem of space junk and scientists' attempts to solve this problem

• the problem of trash on planet Earth

In paragraph five on page two, what does the word urgent most nearly mean?

• easy to solve

• unnecessary

• needs immediate attention

• minor

Years of space exploration have left tons of "space junk," ________ many scientists are trying to find a way to clean up outer space.

• similarly

• because

• instead

• so