The debris cascade

Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, orbital debris - consisting of defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, spacecraft fragments, and even paint flecks - has increasingly clustered in various orbital regions above the Earth’s atmosphere.

The most critical of these regions is Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where numerous operational satellites reside. Over the decades, the accumulation of space junk has posed a growing threat toward space safety and the overall functionality of satellites orbiting in these regions.

Hence, ongoing efforts to address the challenges faced by the increasing presence of orbital debris have become a global priority.

This talk aims to introduce the fundamental concepts around orbital debris, the challenges we face and more importantly the issues raised by Donald J.Kessler in 1978 and the escalating need for effective solutions to help safeguard our orbital environment.