Meghan Hodges
Space debris, or space junk, refers to any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space. This includes dead satellites, which currently number in the thousands, as well as fragments from rocket launches and collisions. The increasing amount of space debris poses a growing risk of collision with active satellites, which could result in a chain reaction of new space debris—a phenomenon known as Kessler Syndrome. While there is no international Space Traffic Control agency, the US Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) operates a Space Surveillance Network that tracks objects in space and attempts to notify owners of potential collisions. To mitigate the growth of space debris, satellite operators try to carefully design satellites to prevent explosions and move them to disposal orbits at the end of their mission. However, the increasing volume of space debris will make future space missions more costly and complex, requiring additional fuel for manoeuvres to avoid debris and shielding to protect critical areas.
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What You'll Learn
- The US Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) monitors the ISS and other NASA satellites for collisions
- The growth of debris will make tracking and avoiding debris more complicated, operationally difficult and costly
- There is no internationally recognised Space Traffic Control agency
- The Kessler Syndrome: a phenomenon where the amount of junk in orbit reaches a point where it creates more debris
- There is no way to control inactive objects or objects that are unable to manoeuvre
The US Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) monitors the ISS and other NASA satellites for collisions
The US Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) is the closest agency to a space air traffic control system. JSpOC operates the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), which uses radar and optical sensors at various sites around the world to track and observe objects in space. The SSN can track objects larger than a softball in low Earth orbits and basketball-sized objects or larger in higher geosynchronous orbits.
JSpOC maintains the most complete catalog of objects in orbit, including the International Space Station (ISS) and other NASA satellites. They monitor these objects for potential collisions with cataloged objects and notify the owner or operator if a collision is predicted. This information is also shared with other nations to help protect their satellites.
The growth of space debris from inactive satellites, rocket bodies, and explosions poses a significant challenge for JSpOC in monitoring and collision prevention. Over time, the accumulation of debris will make tracking and avoiding more complicated and costly, requiring additional fuel for maneuvers and shielding to protect critical areas. While small debris may not be trackable, it can still be deadly, and the risk of collision increases with the launch of more objects into space.
To address the issue of space debris, satellite operators are implementing measures such as careful design to prevent explosions, moving decommissioned satellites to disposal orbits, and reentering them into the atmosphere. Additionally, the removal of large and dangerous debris involves matching its speed, attaching to it, and maneuvering it into a lower orbit or directly into the ocean. However, this process is challenging and carries risks, especially when dealing with objects containing residual propellant.
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The growth of debris will make tracking and avoiding debris more complicated, operationally difficult and costly
The growth of space debris will make tracking and avoiding debris more complicated, operationally difficult, and costly. As the volume of debris increases, the risk of collisions rises, posing a threat to active satellites and space missions. The challenge of navigating through this debris field will require more complex manoeuvres, additional fuel, and protective shielding for critical areas, all of which will incur higher costs and operational complexities.
Currently, there are about 2,000 active satellites orbiting Earth, alongside 3,000 dead ones and tens of thousands of fragments of space debris. The US Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and other tracking systems play a crucial role in monitoring these objects, but the sheer quantity of debris will make their job increasingly difficult. The SSN, operated by the US Air Force, uses radar and optical sensors to track objects larger than a softball in low Earth orbits and basketball-sized objects in higher geosynchronous orbits. However, the proliferation of smaller debris, which is often untrackable, can still prove disastrous if it collides with a satellite.
The increasing volume of space debris will require more intricate planning and frequent manoeuvres to avoid collisions. These evasive actions will consume extra fuel, necessitating the inclusion of additional fuel reserves, which adds weight and further complicates mission parameters. Moreover, critical components of satellites will likely require shielding to protect against potential impacts with smaller debris, adding further weight and complexity to the satellite's design.
The operational challenges and costs associated with space debris will escalate over time as the amount of debris grows. This growth is fuelled by various factors, including rocket launches, satellite explosions, collisions, and anti-satellite tests. Each collision has the potential to generate thousands of new pieces of debris, exponentially increasing the hazards in orbit. The lack of an internationally recognised "Space Traffic Control" agency further complicates the situation, as responsibility for tracking and controlling space debris falls primarily on individual nations.
The escalating complexity and cost of dealing with space debris highlight the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. While some measures, such as passivation of spacecraft at the end of their life and the use of self-deorbiting upper stages, have been implemented, the absence of a centralised governance structure and economic incentives hinders the effectiveness of debris reduction efforts. As the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow, the challenge of managing space debris will become increasingly critical to ensure the safety and sustainability of space exploration and utilisation.
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There is no internationally recognised Space Traffic Control agency
The closest agency to a Space Traffic Control system is the US Air Force’s Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC). The JSpOC operates the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and maintains the most complete catalogue of objects in orbit. The SSN has radar and optical sensors at various sites around the world, tracking objects larger than a softball in low Earth orbits and basketball-sized objects in higher, geosynchronous orbits. Other nations use JSpOC data as well as their own tracking data to protect their satellites.
Space Traffic Management (STM) is defined by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) as "the set of technical and regulatory provisions for promoting safe access into outer space, operations in outer space and return from outer space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency interference." The United Nations bureau most concerned with space traffic management is the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). In 2018, President Donald Trump signed Space Policy Directive-3, which defined STM as "the planning, coordination, and on-orbit synchronization of activities to enhance the safety, stability, and sustainability of operations in the space environment."
Space debris is any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space, including dead satellites and bits of debris from rockets. In more than 60 years of space activities, more than 6050 launches have resulted in some 56,450 tracked objects in orbit, of which about 28,160 remain in space and are regularly tracked by the US SSN. Of these, only about 4000 are intact, operational satellites, while about 24% are non-operational satellites, and about 11% are spent upper stages and mission-related objects.
Sources of space debris include explosions of rocket bodies, satellite interceptions by surface-launched missiles, and collisions between satellites. The majority of in-orbit fragmentation events have been explosions of spacecraft and upper stages, but it is expected that in the future, collisions will become the dominant source of space debris. Space debris can make space missions more costly and difficult, and the risk of collision increases as more objects are launched into space.
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The Kessler Syndrome: a phenomenon where the amount of junk in orbit reaches a point where it creates more debris
The Kessler Syndrome is a phenomenon in which the amount of space junk in orbit around Earth creates more and more space debris, causing problems for satellites, astronauts, and mission planners. Named after former NASA scientist Donald Kessler, it was first described in a 1978 paper.
Kessler and his co-author Burton Cour-Palais noted that the likelihood of satellite collisions increases with the number of spacecraft orbiting Earth. Each collision would produce orbiting fragments, increasing the probability of further collisions, leading to the growth of a belt of debris around the Earth. This cascade of collisions could significantly hinder humanity's space ambitions and activities.
The Kessler Syndrome underscores the critical need for effective space traffic management and collision avoidance strategies. While the risk of space junk is not currently a huge concern, several companies are planning vast new groups of satellites, making space traffic management and space-junk mitigation more pressing issues.
Space junk, or space debris, is any piece of machinery or debris left by humans in space. This includes dead satellites, rocket bodies, and fragments from explosions and collisions. In more than 60 years of space activities, more than 6050 launches have resulted in about 56,450 tracked objects in orbit, of which about 28,160 remain in space. While objects in lower orbits will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up, debris at higher altitudes can continue to circle the Earth for hundreds or thousands of years.
The growth of space debris will make tracking and avoiding debris more complicated and costly. Satellite operators try to reduce space debris by carefully designing satellites to prevent explosions, re-entering them, or moving them to disposal orbits when their mission is over.
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There is no way to control inactive objects or objects that are unable to manoeuvre
The ever-increasing amount of space debris poses a significant challenge to satellite operations and space exploration. While measures such as the US Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) and the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) track objects in space, there are limitations to controlling inactive objects or those unable to manoeuvre.
Firstly, there is currently no internationally recognised "Space Traffic Control" agency, and the absence of a centralised governing body to manage space debris makes it challenging to address this complex issue effectively. The closest agency to a space traffic control system is the JSpOC, which operates the SSN and maintains a comprehensive catalogue of objects in orbit. However, their ability to track and manage space debris was impacted by the closure of the Space Fence, a part of the SSN.
Secondly, the sheer volume of space debris, including inactive objects, makes it extremely difficult to control or manoeuvre them. As of 2020, there were approximately 8,000 metric tons of debris in orbit, and this figure is expected to increase. The majority of this debris is from older objects, explosions, and collisions, which are not controlled. While nations that launch and operate satellites are responsible for their space debris, there is no international accountability for tracking and controlling it.
Additionally, the nature of inactive objects or those unable to manoeuvre presents challenges. These objects may be dead satellites, fragments from explosions or collisions, or even paint flecks and metal pieces. Their lack of propulsion or manoeuvring capability makes it impossible to direct or control their trajectory.
Furthermore, the technical and logistical complexities of dealing with inactive objects or those unable to manoeuvre cannot be understated. Removing or controlling these objects would require advanced technology, and there are concerns that such technology could be perceived as a potential space weapon. Additionally, the economic incentives for addressing this issue are lacking, as there is currently no cost assigned to the creation of space debris.
In summary, the challenge of controlling inactive objects or those unable to manoeuvre in space is multifaceted. While efforts are made to track and monitor space debris, the absence of a centralised governing body, the sheer volume of debris, the nature of inactive objects, and economic and technical considerations all contribute to the difficulty in controlling them. Addressing this issue will require international cooperation, innovative solutions, and a comprehensive legal and cost framework.
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Frequently asked questions
To prevent the creation of artificial space debris, many satellites launched above low-Earth orbit are initially placed into elliptical orbits with perigees inside Earth's atmosphere. This causes the orbit to decay quickly, destroying the satellite upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
Collision avoidance strategies are becoming a regular part of flying missions in low-Earth orbit. This includes the use of automation, space traffic coordination, and new communication protocols.
The Kessler Syndrome, also known as the "tragedy of the commons", is a theory that maximizing self-interest through the use of a shared resource can lead to the resource's degradation. In the context of space debris, this would mean that individuals' rational actions in space would lead to an irrational collective result: orbits crowded with debris.
As of 2020, there were 8,000 metric tons of debris in orbit, with 85% of this pollution in low-Earth orbit. There are about 3,000 dead satellites in orbit, along with 34,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimetres, and millions of smaller pieces.
