The space shuttle is now in greater danger from collisions with orbiting
space junk than from an accident during launch, warns an expert committee set up
by the National Academy of Sciences.
Orbital detritus constantly peppers space shuttles in orbit. In 1995 and
1996, a bay door, a speed brake and a platform used to deploy a satellite
received 鈥渟ignificant鈥� hits from extraterrestrial garbage. NASA officials plan
to add shielding to vulnerable areas, such as the radiator systems.