Break-up record

Cosmos 2251

On 10 February 2009 the retired Russian satellite Cosmos 2251 collided with the working communications satellite Iridium 33, the first accidental collision between two intact satellites. 1,101 of its fragments are now entered in the Orbital Register.

Orbital Register seal
1,101
Fragments on record
10 Feb 2009
Break-up
15 Dec 2015
Half down by
30 Aug 2026
Latest to come down
608
Still in orbit

Fragments coming down, month by month

Bars: per month · line: share of the cloud down
725%1550%2275%29100%201020122014201620182020202220242026
Fragments re-entered that monthShare of all 1,101 on record
The fragments

Every fragment on record

Each fragment has its own register entry and permanent number. Fragment pages are kept out of search results; this page carries them.

1,101 fragments on record
Entry no.ObjectCountryLaunchedEnded (UTC)In orbitHow it ended
PendingCOSMOS 2251 DEBNORAD 34478 · 1993-036TX · FragmentRussia—30 Aug 2026—Re-entered
1,101 entries · page 56 of 56
Other break-ups

More debris clouds on record