I know space junk can fall to earth but does it ever go the other way and fly off into deep space?

Question

I know space junk can fall to earth but does it ever go the other way and fly off into deep space?

In: 1

Answer 1

Yes, but not the normal satellites orbiting Earth. Examples of space junk that escaped into solar orbit are the third stages of some of the Apollo missions. They passed close enough to the trailing side of the moon to get a boost out into solar orbit.