Space debris isn't a faraway problem, and it demands urgent collective action

With more than 13,000 active satellites circling the planet, avoiding collisions is critical to protect essential services like the internet and navigation systems.

- Tomas Lamanauskas and Mario Maniewicz

Outer space has always been a source of inspiration and opportunity. The Artemis II mission, which returned to Earth on April 10, has set humans farther from Earth than ever before. The historic lunar flyby shows what humanity can achieve when nations and industries come together to push boundaries.

After nearly 70 years of satellite launches and 65 years since the first human spaceflight, space has become integral to modern life.

Sending up spacecraft has become a frequent occurrence but ensuring responsible end-of-life management has not kept pace.

Over 13,000 active satellites launched by nearly 100 countries now circle the planet, with more than 2,200 new satellites added in just the past 15 months.

These satellites provide essential services - connecting billions of people who lack regular access to the internet, enabling navigation and mapping, and supporting critical Earth observation.

Yet their rapid growth comes with risks that demand urgent attention.

A FRAGILE SHARED RESOURCE

Space debris ranging from fragments of non-operational satellites to spent rocket stages such as discarded fuel tanks poses a growing threat.