Video: ESA warns space junk poses a risk as 3 objects a day de-orbit

Intact satellites or rocket bodies are now re-entering the atmosphere on average more than three times a day. Even without new rocket launches the amount of space junk would keep growing, because collisions add new debris faster than it naturally re-enters the atmosphere. To prevent a runaway chain reaction known as Kessler syndrome from making orbits unusable, active debris removal is required.