Space Jammed—What Goes Up Must Come Down … or Does it?
- Robert R. Selle
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Debris Surrounding Earth Sparks Safety and Environmental Concerns
Gazing at the night sky, it is spread with the peaceful glitter of thousands of far-off stars. But what is unseen in the darkness is a slowly increasing clutter of space junk just a few hundred miles over people’s heads.
For decades, dozens of nations have been launching satellites into Earth’s orbit for everything from communication and navigation to weather forecasting and scientific research. But when these instruments finish their work, many become debris that continues to circle the planet. This growing array of old rocket stages, dead satellites, and even tiny fragments from collisions is creating a serious problem in low Earth orbit (LEO), a region extending from about 100 miles to 660 miles aboveground.
NASA’s Orbital Debris Program tracks over 30,000 large LEO objects that are 10 cm (4 in) and more in diameter. However, there are plenty more—an estimated 500,000 objects are between 1 (0.4 in) and 10 cm, while the number of objects bigger than 1 mm (0.04 in) exceeds 100 million. These objects travel at speeds up to 7.8 km/s (28,000 km/h; 17,500 mph), so even a small impact can severely damage a spacecraft. It’s estimated that a half-inch paint chip whizzing in space would have the same impact as a 550-pound object traveling 60 mph on Earth.
Since the turn of the century, 91 countries have sent satellites into LEO. Before that, only 14 countries—led by the US, Russia, and China—had fielded satellites.
Ominous Future
Compared to the immense vastness of open space in the LEO region, the quantity of debris objects is small. Nonetheless, the number of such items and their dangerous speed are raising alarms about the possibility of a chain reaction known as the Kessler Syndrome. Proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, this scenario suggests that as the number of objects in LEO increases, collisions between debris will become more frequent, creating even more fragments. These new pieces of debris would then increase the likelihood of further collisions, potentially leading to a geometrically expanding effect that could make certain orbital regions unusable for generations.
“The worst-case scenario is you end up creating enough debris where it’s not cost-effective to depend on space [any longer],” Kessler warned in a 2019 video. “Now, that may take a long time. But because it’s a nonreversible process, once you’ve reached a certain threshold where you’re generating debris from these collisions faster than it can be cleaned out, it’ll just continually get worse.”
This “space jam” not only threatens current and future satellite operations, but it also raises unimagined environmental concerns on Earth. Humanity’s increasing reliance on satellite services for everything from weather forecasting to Global Positioning System navigation underscores the urgency of addressing the orbital scrapyard.
NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office and the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Space Debris Office continually scan the LEO region to ensure the safety of operational satellites and the International Space Station. They must do so in light of the steady growth of the debris population due to both accidental fragmentations (like satellite breakups and explosive collisions) and intentional destructions (such as antisatellite missile tests conducted by the US, China, and Russia).
“If we continue operating the way we do [in space] today, we will have a disaster in 50 years or 100 years,” states Dr. Holger Krag, head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Office.
“If we continue operating the way we do [in space] today, we will have a disaster in 50 years or 100 years,” states Dr. Holger Krag, head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Office. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs also recognizes space debris as a critical issue for the long-term sustainability of space activities.
Cleaning Up Space Debris
Recognizing the growing threat, various entities are actively developing technologies and strategies for space debris remediation or removal. Several innovative companies are at the forefront of this effort.
One such firm is Paladin Space. Their proposed approach involves using a specialized satellite payload called Triton that “swallows” space junk. These Triton satellites are designed to rendezvous with semi-large pieces of debris (in the 1–10 cm range), capture them, and then either deorbit them, causing them to burn up safely in Earth’s atmosphere, or move them to a graveyard orbit high above LEO and far away from operational spacecraft. Triton will also allow for in-orbit debris characterization and even recycling. “The team at Paladin Space are driving a change in perspective on debris, as we see it as a future resource worth utilizing,” Paladin Space CEO Harrison Box said in an email exchange with The Earth & I.
Paladin Space’s main mechanism is still in the development and testing phases, so the effectiveness of the company’s efforts will depend on the successful deployment and operation of their satellites and their ability to safely and efficiently secure a variety of debris shapes and sizes.
Another intriguing concept comes from Orbital Lasers, a Japanese company. Their approach explores the use of powerful lasers, either ground-based or space-based, to gently nudge smaller pieces of debris. By precisely targeting a laser beam onto a debris object, the laser’s energy can create a small amount of thrust, gradually altering the object’s trajectory so it eventually reenters the atmosphere and burns up. Orbital Lasers’ main mechanism is noncontact, aiming to address the vast number of smaller-but-still-dangerous fragments. The effectiveness of this method hinges on the laser’s accuracy, power, and ability to track and target numerous objects efficiently.
However, “Currently, laser ablation is only hypothetical, as are many other space debris removal proposals,” according to Chloe Wang of the California Institute of Technology in 2021. “Only a few missions have been approved so far to remove space debris, and they are generally geared toward removing large pieces of debris or preventing the abandonment of future satellites.”
Is Space Cleanup Too Expensive?
The question arises as to whether removing space scrap is really worth the likely enormous cost over many years—or even decades.
“One collision could cause the destruction of multiple satellites and potentially threaten the lives of astronauts in orbit, so the cost of removing that debris to stop that from happening could be described as ‘priceless’.”
“The ‘cost-efficiency’ argument can be framed in terms of the potential costs of debris collisions instead,” says Box. “One collision could cause the destruction of multiple satellites and potentially threaten the lives of astronauts in orbit, so the cost of removing that debris to stop that from happening could be described as ‘priceless.’ Currently, debris is simply burned up in the atmosphere after it is caught because there is not enough infrastructure in orbit to recycle this debris for other uses, but this area is rapidly developing—so stay tuned!”
Actions by Governmental Agencies
Beyond individual companies, governmental bodies and international organizations are also taking action. The ESA’s Clean Space initiative actively supports the development of technologies for preventing and removing space debris. They are exploring various concepts, including harpoons and inflatable drag sails that can accelerate a satellite’s deorbiting process at the end of its life. According to the ESA’s Space Safety website, “In order to realize a Zero Debris future, ESA will continue to study the impact of space technology on our orbital environment and assist the development of technologies that do not exist today but are needed for a responsible, sustainable use of space.”
On the policy front, the United States has also recognized the importance of targeting scrap in space. A House bill called the Orbital Sustainability Act of 2023 aimed to establish a framework for managing and mitigating the risks associated with space debris. This act, along with earlier directives like the Trump Administration’s Space Policy Directive 3 in 2018 and the Biden administration’s focus on Novel Space Activities in 2023, signal a growing awareness among national leaders of the need for responsible behavior in space. These policies often emphasize the importance of international cooperation, data sharing, and development of best practices for satellite design and operation to minimize the creation of new debris.
In addition, Congressman Nick Begich from Alaska spoke on the concern of space debris for national security in February 2025: “Additionally, Clear Space Force Station near Fairbanks is pivotal in space situational awareness and missile defense. This facility is crucial for tracking objects in orbit, ensuring that America maintains a vigilant eye on potential threats and space debris that could endanger critical infrastructure. These efforts are vital to protecting our Nation's interests and maintaining a leading presence in space.”
Possible Environmental Impact of Space Debris
While the immediate threat of space debris is to orbital assets, there are growing environmental concerns related to its eventual return to Earth. Most debris burns up in the atmosphere due to friction. However, the sheer volume and increasing size of some reentering objects are raising questions about their potential effects on the planet.
One concern revolves around air quality. As debris burns up, it releases various materials into the upper atmosphere, including vaporized metals and other chemicals, as indicated in a 2023 study. The long-term effects of this constant influx of artificial particles on atmospheric composition and chemistry are not yet fully understood and require further research.
Some materials commonly used in satellites and rocket bodies contain substances that, when broken down in the upper atmosphere—to, for example, aluminum oxide—could contribute to ozone depletion.
Perhaps the most discussed environmental concern is the potential impact on the ozone layer. Some materials commonly used in satellites and rocket bodies contain substances that, when broken down in the upper atmosphere—to, for example, aluminum oxide—could contribute to ozone depletion. As the amount of space debris increases, the cumulative effect of these reentries on the delicate ozone layer warrants careful monitoring and assessment.
“While researchers have raised concerns about the potential for megaconstellations [e.g., Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system] to pollute LEO, they have largely accepted deorbiting of dead satellites without considering the potential atmospheric pollution from routine burning of various carbon compounds and aerosolization of metal components,” noted Dr. Laura Ratliff of the Space Policy Institute at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs in 2022.
Space: A Global Commons
The atmosphere is a shared global resource, and any significant alteration to its composition or structure could have far-reaching consequences for climate patterns, weather systems, and even human health. Ignoring the potential environmental impacts of space debris today could lead to unforeseen and potentially harmful consequences for future generations.
The challenge of space debris is significant, but the growing awareness and innovative efforts toward remediation offer a glimmer of hope. As technologies for capturing and deorbiting debris mature and international policies strengthen, humanity can look forward to a future where the orbital environment is safer and more sustainable.
This progress is crucial not only for protecting vital space-based infrastructure, which underpins so much of modern life, but also for ensuring the long-term viability of space exploration and the ability to unlock the vast potential that lies beyond Earth. The journey to clean up the LEO region has just begun, but it is a necessary path to secure humanity’s future among the stars.
*Robert Selle is a freelance writer and editor based in Bowie, Maryland.
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