Question on Space Junk in orbit...?

<QUOTE>the direction of travel and approximate altitude of most of the Space Junk</QUOTE>

Most rockets are launched in the general direction of West-to-East, because that launch can give a small amount of velocity and thus spare the use of an extra amount of fuel at launch.

For example, if you're launching from the equator you can gain up to 0.5km/s in orbital velocity: it means you can spare up to about 7% of fuel than if you'd launch from, e.g. the North or South pole. That's because the Earth is "spinning"... it takes 24 hours for a point in the equator (such as the launch pad) to make a full turn, covering a distance of 40 thousand km. So, it makes sense to launch from the equator in the direction that the Earth "spins". And therefore that's the direction you'll find that most space junk is orbiting.

As for the altitude, that depends on which applications you launch. That depends on the kind of orbit the launch is trying to achieve. Low earth orbit (less than 2000km) or geosynchronous orbit are not the only orbits. In any case, up until the point where the rocket releases its payload, it can shed loose nuts and bolts, or bits or paint, or whatever. Once those are let go from the rocket, they're dead rocks following their own trajectory. For example, if you have a paint flake dropping from a rocket when it's still going slowly during the launch (say, only 3km/s near the Earth) then the flake will make a ballistic trajectory and re-enter Earth's atmosphere because it's not going fast enough.

As a rule-of-thumb, you'll find most space junk where there are the most satellites.

This interesing plot gives you the estimated number of objects per cubic kilometer at different altitudes: http://spaceelevatorwiki.com/wiki/images/1/10/Spac... Pay attention that it uses is a semi-log scale.

You're right - people are working on a debris eating satellite.

http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/mitigate/mitigat...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris

I can't tell you the general direction of orbits only that modern geostationary orbits are required by international treaty to manoeuvre themselves into a "graveyard" orbit to keep them from hitting other satellites or else de-orbit and burn up in the atmosphere if it can be done safely.

There in all probability remains junk from the Gemini and Apollo courses nevertheless in orbit, and different previous area courses. curiously between the very early American leading edge satellites remains in orbit. generally products in orbit for an prolonged time will spiral down and re-enter earth's environment. Many satellites are sent into orbit. yet, the rockets carrying them regrettably additionally circulate into orbit - a great deal including to the junk. there is lots junk in orbit now, that it fairly is deemed risky to be in orbit. the 1st scrap provider provider to circulate up there could in all probability be a millionaire.