The number of smaller pieces of space debris currently in orbit is thought to number more than 100 million. Due to their colossal orbital speeds, even small pieces can pose a threat to satellites and spacecraft, several of which have been damaged or destroyed already.
The number of satellites in orbit is expected to increase from around 9,000 today to over 60,000 by 2030.
While such technology is used to provide a huge range of social and environmental benefits, there are fears the predicted growth of the industry could make large parts of Earth’s orbit unusable.
An international group of experts from the University of Plymouth; Arribada Initiative; the University of Texas at Austin; the California Institute of Technology; Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Spaceport Cornwall, and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) say this demonstrates the urgent need for global consensus on how best to govern Earth’s orbit.
The group called for enforcement action to...