>2. Does anyone know approx. how many satellites are in orbit right now? The >latest number that I've heard is about 8,000. See http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/boxscore.htm which says that as of 7 July 99 there were 8,841 cataloged objects. 2609 are cataloged as "satellites" i.e. payloads. 89 are outside of earth orbit, the remaining 6,143 range from rocket bodies to much smaller pieces of space debris.