Explained: What is space debris and how much junk is India responsible for?

The latest report published by NASA states that there are 25,182 pieces of space debris, of sizes larger than 10 cm, in the lower earth orbits. According to the most recent report of Orbital Debris Quarterly News, published by NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office, there are 25,182 pieces of space debris, of sizes larger than 10 cm, in the lower earth orbits which are within 2,000 km of earth’s surface. India’s anti-sat test and resulting debris The issue of space debris first became big news when India conducted Mission Shakti, an anti-satellite missile test, from the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island launch complex on 27 March 2019..@DRDO_India successfully launched the Ballistic Missile Defence #BMD Interceptor missile, in an Anti-Satellite #ASAT missile test #MissionShakti engaging an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode from the Dr. A.P.J. — Narendra Modi March 27, 2019 However, the move attracted NASA’s criticism with its administrator — Jim Bridenstine — saying the test had created 60 pieces of orbital debris big enough to track, 24 of which rise higher than the International Space Station’s orbit around Earth.