How a home in Florida was hit with space junk
About 2,000 kilometres above in low Earth orbit is a junkyard with millions of pieces of space junk travelling at a very high speed.
Last month, a mysterious object crashed into the roof of a home in Florida and it turned out to be a piece of metal that was used to mount old batteries on a cargo pallet from the International Space Center.
While it only weighed less than two pounds and was 1.6 inches in diameter, it ripped through the ceiling and tore up the flooring in the home in Naples, Fl.
Former astronaut Julie Payette explained in an interview with CTV News on Friday that space debris can be anything from old or inactive satellites, rocket stages, and other discarded hardware such as instrument covers or separation bolts.
Even though some debris is very small, they can do a lot of damage since they can travel as fast as seven times the speed of a bullet.
Payette said there are several options for decommissioning hardware that is in space: disassembly and return to Earth, boosting to a higher orbit, natural orbital decay with random re-entry, and controlled targeted re-entry to a remote ocean area.
Watch the video above for the full interview with CTV Montreal Anchor Mutsumi Takahashi.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.