When was space junk discovered?

Space junk, or space debris, became a concern shortly after the advent of space exploration in the late 1950s. The first significant pieces of debris were created during early satellite launches, particularly after the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957. By the 1970s, as more satellites and missions were launched, the accumulation of debris became more evident, leading to increasing awareness and study of the issue. Today, space debris remains a significant challenge for space agencies and satellite operators.