Did you know there are over a million objects orbiting the Earth right now? Not all of them are operating spacecraft, many of them are referred to as space junk. Join Thomas Ormston from the European Space Agency (ESA) as he delves into space debris, what it means to us and the risks for scientists and astronauts.

Thousands of satellites orbit our planet, enabling every aspect of our modern lives, but they are not alone – they are surrounded by the junk of human space exploration and development, everything from spent rockets and dead spacecraft to nameless fragments and even a spatula! Each of these objects is orbiting at 7.8 km/s, meaning that even something as small and simple as nuts and bolts have enough energy to obliterate a spacecraft. ESA's Thomas Ormston, whose daily job it is to fly spacecraft in Earth orbit, lives every day with this risk.

In this eye-opening one-off talk, Thomas will delve into what space debris means for all of us. Discover how we got to where we are today, what it means for our use of space, and where we’re heading in the future. Learn about the different sources of space debris - even the spatula - and hear the very latest developments, like the rise of megaconstellations, the impacts of anti-satellite weapons or the risk posed by dead spacecraft, and what those mean for the space environment. And find out more about how agencies like ESA are managing space debris and searching for new more sustainable ways to lay the groundwork for managing the development of space for the benefit of all.

Your After Dark ticket includes:

• A space talk and Q&A with Thomas Ormston, Deputy Spacecraft Operations Manager for ESA's Sentinel-1 mission
• An opportunity to purchase drinks and snacks from the cafe

Please note that there will be no access to the exhibiton floors during this event. 

About Thomas Ormston

Thomas Ormston serves as the Deputy Spacecraft Operations Manager for the Sentinel-1 mission, stationed at the European Space Agency’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Hailing originally from Winchester, he earned his MSci in Physics and Space Research from the University of Birmingham in 2005.

His journey into space exploration began when he joined the Mars Express Flight Control Team at ESOC, where he oversaw critical aspects such as the power, thermal, and communications subsystems. Thomas spearheaded the Mars Webcam project during his tenure on Mars Express and played a pivotal role in supporting NASA's JPL Mars rovers.

In 2012, Thomas took up a post flying ESA’s Earth Observation fleet, include piloting spacecraft such as the Earth Explorer CryoSat-2 and laying the groundwork for upcoming missions, such as the EarthCARE mission. Since 2020, Thomas has been responsible for the operational health and safety of the two flying Sentinel-1 satellites. His duties encompass navigating them through space debris hazards and ensuring they fulfil their mission objectives as integral components of the Copernicus program. This program provides free and open Earth observation data to all, empowering global efforts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today.

Accessibility information for Space Talk with ESA

The Planetarium is accessible so everyone can have a special experience here. Every show is relaxed with quiet and calm presentations. It's not super dark and you can move around, go out and come back in if you like. If you have a wheelchair, we have spaces for you to sit with seats for your family and friends. The stairs have lights to make them easy to see.