All posts tagged: Space Debris

Increasing space debris threatens US systems, NRO warns

Increasing space debris threatens US systems, NRO warns

Published by skeptic

A dramatic rise in the number of satellites in orbit is increasing the amount of space debris, posing a critical threat to the capabilities of America’s national space systems. During his keynote address to the Space Policy, Science, and Technology Symposium hosted by the Purdue University Policy Research Institute, Maj. Gen. Chris Povak, deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), warned of the ongoing risks of building space debris. Povak giving his keynote address to the Space Policy, Science, and Technology Symposium “The future gets more complex, not less. More satellites, more debris, more competition,” he said. “Managing these challenges simultaneously continues to be priority number one for this community, to ensure that we continue to fulfil our mission to the American people.” Some space debris is so small it can’t be tracked With space becoming increasingly congested over the past two decades, Povak explained, there are hundreds of thousands of objects in orbit – including many that are less than 10 centimetres in diameter and too small to track reliably – that could …

Reusable orbital vehicles market set to reach 3M by 2036

Reusable orbital vehicles market set to reach $263M by 2036

Published by skeptic

Vehicles engineered for multiple missions, with precision navigation and recovery capabilities, are emerging as critical infrastructure for the future of the space economy. The reusable orbital vehicles market is entering a transformative growth phase, driven by intensifying orbital congestion and the urgent need for sustainable space operations. Valued at $94.2m in 2026, the market for reusable orbital vehicles is projected to reach $263.3m by 2036, expanding at a CAGR of 10.8% over the forecast period. This is mainly due to the surging growth in satellite deployments, with organisations recognising the need for space debris mitigation and in-orbit servicing. “Reusable orbital vehicles are not just a cost innovation-they represent a structural shift in how space missions are designed and executed,” the report noted. “Companies that can demonstrate certified, multi-mission capabilities and integrate seamlessly with existing satellite ecosystems will capture disproportionate value in this market.” Key growth drivers of the reusable orbital vehicles market The increasing density of satellites and debris fragments is reshaping mission economics and risk management across the aerospace sector. Traditional single-use systems are …

Our Fragile Space exhibition highlights dangers of space debris

Our Fragile Space exhibition highlights dangers of space debris

Published by skeptic

A groundbreaking photographic exhibition is set to highlight the grave and deepening issue of space debris. Our Fragile Space shines a spotlight on the critical importance of space sustainability and the protection of the night sky through a powerful blend of reportage and artistic photography. Created and led by photographer Max Alexander and supported by the Royal Astronomical Society, Our Fragile Space will be open to the public in the Burlington House courtyard in London from 19 March to 10 May 2026. Credit: Max Alexander Space debris poses significant threats to our way of life Our Fragile Space will exhibit the growing threat space debris poses to our environment and way of life. These concerns are shared by the RAS, particularly in the wake of plans by SpaceX, Reflect Orbital and China to launch a combined 1.25 million satellites into an already crowded and increasingly perilous low-Earth orbit. “Max Alexander’s brilliant exhibition is a powerful and timely reminder of the growing threat of space junk,” stated RAS President Professor Mike Lockwood. “Thought-provoking and instructive in …

Six UK startups join ESA incubator to advance space technology

Six UK startups join ESA incubator to advance space technology

Published by skeptic

Six companies have joined the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre UK (ESA BIC UK) programme, highlighting the growing role of space technology in addressing challenges both in orbit and on Earth. Through ESA BIC UK, these emerging companies focused on space technology will gain access to technical facilities, research expertise and funding designed to help early-stage ventures commercialise advanced technologies. The incubation programme is operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in partnership with the UK Space Agency and the University of Leicester. Participants receive support to develop products that can be deployed in space missions while also generating applications for industries on Earth. The latest cohort reflects a growing trend in the sector: startups adapting space technologies to solve real-world problems, from managing orbital debris to detecting wildfires more quickly. DeepTech Catalyst expands the UK space innovation pipeline ESA BIC UK operates within STFC’s broader DeepTech Catalyst network, which supports startups across sectors including biotechnology, healthcare, quantum computing and space. Since its launch in 2011, the network has assisted more than …

AI systems scour our oceans for floating space debris

AI systems scour our oceans for floating space debris

Published by skeptic

Researchers are combining AI-based satellite-image recognition with drift prediction models to improve the collection of floating space debris in the ocean. Identifying and tracking floating space debris is critical to ocean clean-up efforts. However, effective systems for doing that remain elusive, despite the wealth of satellite images and weather data currently available. The AI for Detecting Ocean Plastic Pollution with Tracking (ADOPT) project aims to change this with two types of systems. “One is to identify garbage patches by analysing satellite images, and the other is to predict where the patches will have drifted by the time clean-up teams can reach them, usually within 24 hours,” explained Emanuele Dalsasso, an ECEO scientist. The idea is to meet a simple need: governments and NGOs can’t respond immediately when debris is detected, as they need time to organise and deploy clean-up operations. High-resolution images make it easier to track floating space debris The ADOPT team initially worked with open-access data collected by Sentinel-2 satellites, a series of optical imaging satellites launched by the European Space Agency. However, …

How ESA’s Design for Demise guidelines will mitigate space debris

How ESA’s Design for Demise guidelines will mitigate space debris

Published by skeptic

The European Space Agency has released its Design for Demise guidelines – a vital step towards achieving zero debris. The Design for Demise guidelines serve as the technical backbone for engineers tasked with ensuring that when a satellite returns to Earth, it leaves nothing behind but a streak of light in the sky. By February 2021, more than 6,000 launches had placed more than 45,000 metric tonnes of debris into orbit, posing significant risks to life on Earth through atmospheric re-entry. Re-entry events have become more common in recent years due to the increase in the number of satellites in LEO. Therefore, Design for Demise aims to reduce the risk of casualties on Earth and enable compliance with global efforts to mitigate those risks. Concerns are growing over re-entry and public safety For decades, the standard procedure for satellites in Low Earth Orbit was to let them naturally decay and burn up in the atmosphere. However, as satellites grew larger and utilised more heat-resistant materials (like titanium and ceramics), many components survived the intense heat …

University of Manchester model reduces risk of satellite collisions

University of Manchester model reduces risk of satellite collisions

Published by skeptic

As the number of spacecraft circling Earth climbs at an unprecedented rate, concerns about satellite collisions are moving from theory to urgent reality. Researchers at the University of Manchester have unveiled a new modelling approach that could reshape how Earth observation missions are planned, helping to safeguard crowded orbits while still delivering the data the world depends on. Their work introduces a framework that weaves the risk of satellite collisions directly into the earliest stages of mission design. John Mackintosh, lead author of the study and PhD researcher at The University of Manchester, said: “Our research addresses what is described as a ‘space sustainability paradox’, the risk that using satellites to solve environmental and social challenges on Earth could ultimately undermine the long-term sustainability of space itself. “By integrating collision risk into early mission design, we ensure Earth-observation missions can be planned more responsibly, balancing data quality with the need to protect the orbital environment.” A crowded orbit under pressure Earth’s orbital environment is becoming increasingly congested. Around 11,800 active satellites are currently in space, and …

Rendezvous and proximity operations in crowded Earth orbit

Rendezvous and proximity operations in crowded Earth orbit

Published by skeptic

Over recent years, several satellites have engaged in unexplained, uncoordinated close approaches to commercial and military space objects. When satellites are manoeuvring near others in Earth orbit, how close is too close? In December 2025, a satellite launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre came within 200m of a SpaceX Starlink satellite orbiting at 560km altitude. No collision occurred, but no coordination between operators had taken place, no orbital data had been shared, and the close approach could have been avoided. This is not an isolated incident. In mid-2024, a satellite from another state moved to within one kilometre of an Indian military mapping satellite. Indian authorities described this as an aggressive move to test their capabilities. Over recent years, Russian Luch ‘inspector’ satellites have continued a pattern of unexplained, uncoordinated close approaches to Western satellites in geostationary orbit. These incidents highlight an unresolved and pressing question for the wider space community: when satellites are manoeuvring near others in orbit, how close is too close? 2025 saw record levels of space activity, with over 300 …

Atmospheric re-entry data for reducing risks of space debris

Atmospheric re-entry data for reducing risks of space debris

Published by skeptic

Scientific data on the atmospheric re-entry process of satellites is urgently needed to ensure a quick, safe, and sustainable demise at the end of their mission, reducing risks on the ground and in space. The European Space Agency (ESA) has now successfully manoeuvred its remaining two Cluster satellites to ensure that its atmospheric re-entry data can be recorded from a plane as they return to Earth orbit later this year. “Moving two satellites to meet a plane sounds extreme, but the unique re-entry data we’ll collect is worth orchestrating the challenging encounter over a remote stretch of ocean,” explained Beatriz Jilete, space debris systems engineer at ESA. Why atmospheric re-entry data is urgently needed Understanding how satellites fall through the atmosphere is crucial to helping build safer, more sustainable spacecraft and reduce the risk of falling debris from space. “With better data on exactly when and how they heat up, break up, and which materials survive, engineers can design satellites that burn up completely, so-called design-for-demise satellites,” said Stijn Lemmens, Draco project manager at ESA. …

Current space debris issue could cost industry up to bn

Current space debris issue could cost industry up to $42bn

Published by skeptic

In collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Saudi Space Agency, the report calls for addressing the needs of the space community across its various stakeholders, including service users, providers, policymakers, and academia. It warns that failure to effectively address the current space debris situation could cost the space industry between $25.8bn and $42.3bn over the next decade, underscoring the urgent need for a healthier space environment that benefits all. The debris problem and its financial constraints Space debris comprises millions of fragments – from defunct satellites to tiny paint flecks – orbiting Earth at speeds of up to 28,000 km/h. At these speeds, even a marble-sized object carries the kinetic energy of a hand grenade, making the debris field a minefield for the modern space economy. The financial burden on the industry is immense for several reasons: Operational manoeuvring Satellite operators must constantly monitor conjunction warnings. Performing avoidance manoeuvres consumes precious on-board fuel, directly shortening the operational lifespan of a satellite and reducing its lifetime revenue. Shielding and design To survive smaller, untrackable …