UK observatory nervously watches growing space junk threat

Experts at Chilbolton Observatory monitor UK-licenced satellites and ever-growing fragments of space debris swirling around them. (Photo: AFP)

CHILBOLTON — In the sweeping shadow of a satellite dish, staff at the Chilbolton Observatory in southern England track a growing number of objects in Earth's orbit, providing data that underpins Britain's space monitoring efforts.

As the hulking antenna swivels into action, screens inside the control room light up with the names of objects the radar system detects: stars, satellites and abandoned rocket bodies.