The number of satellites in low-Earth orbit has exploded in recent years, and the situation is the same as in all popular destinations: transportation is a nightmare. ESA's "Space Environment Report 2024" states that the accumulated number of spacecraft and debris in low Earth orbit has reached an unsustainable level. The report warns that the future of space travel could be in jeopardy if debris reduction strategies are not widely adopted.
Low Earth Orbit Congestion: 2023 is a record year for satellite launches, with more than 2,800 satellites entering low Earth orbit throughout the year.
Most of these satellites join large commercial communications constellations located 500-600 kilometers from Earth.
With two-thirds of active satellites currently operating in this orbital band, satellite operators must work harder to avoid each other.
In addition to the traffic jams, there is also a large amount of debris flying around low Earth orbit. Of the 35,000 orbiting objects tracked by the Space Surveillance Network, 26,000 are debris larger than 10 centimeters, and the ESA Space Debris Office estimates that there are another 1 million pieces of space debris larger than 1 centimeter.
These tiny objects can wreak havoc on working satellites, forcing satellite operators to expend limited fuel resources on regular evasive maneuvers.
According to ESA estimates, in the orbital band 500-600 kilometers from the earth, satellites are expected to have nearly 30 rendezvous events per year - close encounters with passing satellites and debris.
Debris Mitigation: Fortunately, orbital debris mitigation efforts are making progress.
In 2023, ESA developed the Zero Debris Charter to encourage other countries to achieve zero debris by 2030. To date, more than a dozen countries and more than 100 other commercial and non-commercial entities have signed the Charter.
This appears to be yielding real results. The number of payloads deorbiting has increased every year since 2019, while the number of rocket bodies returning to Earth's orbit has also grown steadily since 2017. Last year, more than half of all rocket bodies reentered the atmosphere in a controlled manner.
Still, ESA insists stricter guidelines are needed to prevent runaway debris from turning low Earth orbit into an impenetrable belt of orbital debris. ESA has developed debris mitigation rules for its partners in ESA missions and awarded ClearSpace SA an €86 million ($93.4 million) contract to demonstrate an active debris removal mission.