The European Space Agency (ESA) has released a new documentary short that paints a worrying picture of the growing problem of orbital junk in space. The film, “Space Debris: Is it a Crisis?” highlights the increasing amount of satellites and trash in Earth’s orbit.
According to the ESA, around 70% of the 20,000 satellites launched since their inception remain in orbit, alongside hundreds of millions of fragments left behind by collisions, explosions, and intentional destruction. The rise of satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink is expected to further exacerbate the issue.
The documentary notes that even small fragments of a spacecraft crashing into a satellite can cause significant damage, while larger debris can be catastrophic for both satellites involved in a collision. In some cases, debris can even fall back to Earth, posing a risk to our planet.
The ESA emphasizes that the type of orbit matters when discussing the issue of orbital junk. Orbits with high-risk satellites, such as those used for communication and navigation, are particularly concerning. These orbits overlap with many other critical satellite systems, making it essential to develop sustainable solutions.
The film stresses that any solution must be carefully considered, as rushed decisions could create new problems. “True sustainability is complex,” the ESA notes, and “rushed solutions risk creating the problem of burden-shifting.”
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/earth/esas-new-documentary-paints-worrying-picture-of-earths-orbital-junk-problem