New OEDC report: Earth’s Orbits at Risk

Accumulating space debris puts the sustainability of space activities at risk. Orbital debris has increased remarkably in the last 15 years and the socio-economic impacts of a major space debris accident could be dramatic due to cascading effects.

Satellite data and signals provide crucial inputs to many economic activities, but Earth’s orbits are getting crowded. In 2021, more satellites were launched into space than in the entire preceding decade and tens of thousands of satellites should be launched in the next five years.