The Growing Threat of Space Debris
The escalating issue of space debris is a significant concern; indeed, experts estimate that nearly 19,000 pieces of space junk currently orbit Earth. Moreover, the situation worsened with the breakup of the Chinese Long March 6A rocket stage in August 2024. This incident created a large debris field that poses risks to other satellites and spacecraft.
European Space Agency Leads Initiative to Reduce Orbital Junk by 2030
The European Space Agency (ESA) is at the forefront of efforts to tackle the growing issue of space debris, which poses a significant risk to active satellites.
As part of this initiative, the 22-nation agency is spearheading various strategies to mitigate the mass of space junk resulting from past missions. Notably, 110 countries and organizations have joined ESA’s Zero Debris Charter to eliminate new orbital debris by 2030.
European Space Agency Engages with SpaceX to Combat Space Junk
Furthermore, the European Space Agency (ESA) is engaged in discussions with SpaceX about joining an international charter aimed at mitigating the escalating problem of space debris. Currently, SpaceX operates satellites that account for approximately two-thirds of all active spacecraft in low Earth orbit. According to the U.S. Space Force, out of roughly 10,300 active satellites, around 6,300 belong to SpaceX’s rapidly expanding Starlink constellation.
