On April 1, the European Space Agency (ESA) published a new report providing alarming updates on the growing problem of space debris orbiting Earth. The report finds that more, stronger standards are urgently needed to address this burgeoning menace. As the report concludes, new standards aimed at minimizing space debris are a step toward taking long-term stewardship seriously. These measures are insufficient to stop impacts between existing debris, a scenario called “Kessler syndrome.”
Kessler syndrome occurs when there are too many objects in low Earth orbit. These objects collide, igniting a chain reaction of additional collisions and forming hazardous clouds of debris. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently reported that the volume of junk orbiting the earth has reached crisis proportions. Even small pieces of debris can be extremely dangerous. A mere 1 cm object, roughly the size of a pea, has the potential to disable vital satellite systems, while larger objects could puncture the International Space Station (ISS).
As ESA’s report emphasizes, this is an especially dangerous time due to the unprecedented flow of new potential debris being added to orbit. Recent changes in space traffic patterns have further compounded the problem. The agency points to its annual assessment of debris removal missions, while touting that the debris exiting orbit is not yet outpacing the debris coming into it. The ESA identifies three critical factors that must be considered when planning sustainable space operations: traffic volume, spacecraft type, and the number of commercial operators.
“Even if we created no new space debris, it would not be enough to prevent a runaway series of collisions and fragmentations,” – ESA
The report emphasizes that removing space debris must be done actively and is critical to solving this crisis. Some of this debris burns up upon reentry through the atmosphere, but many others make it all the way to the surface. These processes do very little to address the issue. That’s why the ESA is getting ahead with their first clear-space mission, ClearSpace-1. This upcoming mission is focused on capturing and removing a defunct satellite from orbit. In this regard, this mission is the first of its kind in active debris removal.
The threats that space debris can inflict are massive and should be ever-present in every space mission stakeholder’s mind. The ESA warns that “anything larger than 10 cm could shatter a satellite or spacecraft into pieces.” Space traffic is growing rapidly, with new commercial space operations taking the spotlight and a proliferation of satellite launches increasing congestion. This expansion dramatically escalates the risks associated with collisions and creates a much larger, more hazardous debris field.
The ESA’s report makes a strong case for immediate and deep international cooperation. It encourages all actors to adhere to new guidelines designed to combat the creation and accumulation of space debris. While progress is being made in implementing these standards, urgent measures are needed to keep Earth’s orbit safe for future missions and satellite operations.
