自從五十四年前開始探索太空，人類已經丟棄了很多來自太空船、衛星、望遠鏡和其他太空設備的人造垃圾，而這些東西最終成群地圍繞著地球，被科學家稱為「太空垃圾」。這個太空充滿著垃圾的問題，在於這些碎片可能會對新送進軌道的機器以及載著人類或機器人的太空梭帶來問題。甚至一點小破壞就會造成這些太空船即使不到百萬也要好幾十萬的損失，更不用提干擾繞行軌道的機器所發送到地球的通訊和其他信號。科學家們還不確定該如何清理這些太空垃圾。例如網子、碗、漏斗、磁鐵和自動機器人的想法都曾被建議過，目前也正在進行研究和測試。
對話範例：
(太空垃圾) 傑若米和姍德拉是一對情侶。他們在外頭約會並正在賞星。我們來聽聽他們的對話吧。
姍德拉：哇，你可以在這裡看見好多星星喔。真是美麗！
傑若米：我就知道妳喜歡。這一切感覺很平靜。
姍德拉：噢，你看！一顆流星！快許個願！
傑若米：妳確定那顆是流星嗎？我覺得流星飛得很快。可是這顆只是在空中漂移。
姍德拉：嗯，你是對的。我打賭它只是衛星或什麼之類的。實際上，我看見不少喔。我真好奇它們是如何不在空中相撞的。
傑若米：很顯然地，它們會撞到。我之前才讀到有過多的太空垃圾，逐漸成為通訊和研究公司的問題。
姍德拉：這聽起來很難解決。
傑若米：嗯，是的。但是現在，妳跟我可以看它們漂移就像流星一樣！
(Science) Earth is Surrounded by Space Junk!
Since the dawn of the space aged 54 years ago, humans have been littering space with artifacts from their spacecraft, satellites, telescopes, and other items that end up floating around the Earth in a swarm that scientists are calling space junk. The problem with all this junk up in space is that the debris can cause problems for new machines sent into orbit, as well as for shuttles carrying humans and/or robots. Even small damage caused to any of these craft can cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars, not to mention interruptions in communication and other signals that are sent to Earth from our orbiting machines. Scientists arent yet sure how to clean up all this space junk. Ideas such as nets, bowls, funnels, magnets, and automatic robots have all been suggested and are now being researched or tested.
Dialogue Example
(Space Junk) Jeremy and Sandra are a couple. The pair is out on a date and are looking at the stars.Lets listen to their conversation.
Sandra: Wow, you can see so many stars up here. This is beautiful!
Jeremy: I knew youd like it. Its very peaceful.
Sandra: Oh, look! A shooting star! Make a wish!
Jeremy: Are you sure thats a shooting star? I thought they went kind of fast. This ones just drifting through the sky.
Sandra: Hmm, youre right. I bet its actually a satellite or something. Actually, I can see quite a few of them. I wonder how they dont crash into each other up there.
Jeremy: Apparently, they do. I was just reading that there is so much space junk that its becoming a problem for communication and research companies.
Sandra: That sounds hard to fix.
Jeremy: Yes, it is. But, for now, you and I can just watch them drift around like moving stars!
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