Space Traffic and Satellite Congestion

The rapid increase in satellites and space debris is making Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the region where most satellites orbit, increasingly congested and unsafe. If this issue isn’t managed, it could make this critical space unusable for communication, navigation, and scientific exploration.

What is Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?

• LEO is the region between 160 km and 2,000 km above Earth's surface, where most satellites, including those for internet, weather, and GPS, are located.
• It is ideal for satellites due to its low cost and proximity to Earth. However, it is becoming crowded with both active satellites and debris.
• Low Earth orbit must remain safe to prevent costly disruption to the technology behind global communication, navigation and scientific exploration
• The Problem:

• More than 14,000 satellites are currently in LEO, with 3,500 inactive.
• Additionally, there are around 120 million pieces of debris, including rocket fragments and broken satellite parts. Only a few thousand of these are large enough to track.
• The increasing number of satellites, especially from companies like SpaceX with their Starlink internet satellites, is causing collisions and risking the safety of all space activities.

Recent Developments:

• Space Debris from Explosions: A Chinese rocket stage exploded in August, creating thousands of debris pieces. A Russian satellite exploded in June, forcing astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to shelter for an hour due to flying debris.
• The Growing Risk of Collisions: Data shows a 17% rise in the number of satellites getting close to each other over the past year. Projections suggest tens of thousands more satellites will be launched in the coming years, increasing the collision risk. The potential financial damage from such collisions could be $556 million over five years.
• SpaceX and Starlink: SpaceX has already launched 6,764 Starlink satellites and plans to add thousands more. To avoid collisions, Starlink satellites perform collision-avoidance maneuvers — nearly 50,000 in the first half of 2024 alone. Other space agencies, like the European Space Agency, are also increasing their maneuvers.

The Need for International Coordination:

• The United Nations (U.N.) has called for urgent action to manage this growing congestion. They propose:
  • Creating a shared database of all objects in space to track them effectively.
  • Forming an international framework to ensure countries and companies cooperate in managing space traffic.
• The N. Panel on Space Traffic in October 2023 emphasized that this coordination is essential for space safety and to avoid costly disruptions in global communication, navigation, and scientific research.
• The N. panel suggested using existing tools like telescopes, radars, and sensors to track objects in space. The goal is to create a system similar to air traffic control for space, ensuring safe passage for all objects and reducing the risk of collisions.

Barriers to Cooperation:

• Geopolitical Tensions: Some countries hesitate to share data due to security concerns, especially since satellites may also have military uses.
• Commercial Concerns: Private companies are reluctant to share sensitive data for fear of compromising their competitive advantage.
• Inconsistent Data: Operators currently rely on informal methods to avoid collisions, using data from sources like the S. Space Force, but these methods lack consistency and accountability.