The latest annual report from ESA (European Space Agency) shows that the problem of space debris in Earth’s orbit is worsening. According to the report, over 35,000 objects are being tracked by monitoring networks, with approximately 26,000 of these being debris pieces larger than 10 cm.

Increased Space Debris Problem: Earth’s Orbit Becoming Unsustainable

Despite improvements made to reduce the amount of space debris, the report indicates that the accumulation of debris continues, creating a “long-term unsustainable environment.”

SpaceX reported that within the last year, it performed nearly 50,000 collision avoidance maneuvers with its 6,200 Starlink megaconstellation satellites. Additionally, a piece of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule debris fell in the mountains of North Carolina, posing a risk to private property.

SpaceX Debris Fell into a Field

ESA notes that with the increase in commercial ventures, more satellites are being launched. Most of the satellites launched in 2023 were placed in low Earth orbit, between 500 and 600 kilometers. This region is becoming increasingly congested with space debris, and the results of collisions or explosions could be catastrophic.

However, the report also highlights some positive signs, with efforts to remove payloads and depleted rocket stages from orbit to reduce space debris. In 2023, over 600 pieces of space debris were recorded to have fallen uncontrollably to Earth’s surface.

This situation arises because satellite and rocket parts are not properly deorbited at the end of their mission lifespans. ESA anticipates more collisions and explosions in orbit in the coming centuries, particularly up to the year 2225. The space debris problem poses a serious threat to long-term space exploration and satellite operations.

Space agencies and private companies must develop more effective methods to address this issue. What do you think? Share your thoughts on the space debris problem in the comments section below.