Technology improves our ability detect and track smaller pieces of space debris but not enough satellites are removed at the end of their lives from congested low-Earth orbits.
Fragments
The image above shows the number of pieces of space debris tracked. According to the ESA more than 30.000 pieces of this space debris have been tracked and are regularly logged by space surveillance networks.
ESA believes that there are more objects than 1cm in diameter based on its models.
Also, the effects of smaller satellites and larger constellations are being noted. The agency says the last two years have seen an enormous increase in the number of commercial satellites launched to near-Earth space, with the vast majority being smaller satellites weighing between 100 – 1000 kg.
This is a problem for long-term sustainability, despite the potential benefits of their communications services.
One positive change however is that more satellites are sharing the spacecraft ride, i.e. multiple craft in a rocket’s payload.
ESA says that 2021 saw a record number rocket rockets carrying multiple satellites into orbit simultaneously. This lowers the cost of each satellite launch, but makes it more difficult for surveillance networks and networks to find and track individual objects.
It Writes:
“The increase in launch traffic and the long-lasting nature of space debris in low-Earth orbit is causing a significant number of close encounters, known as ‘conjunctions’, between active satellites and other objects in heavily congested orbits.”
“At lower altitudes, satellites more frequently encounter small satellites and constellations. At higher altitudes, they more often encounter debris objects left over from a small number of famous and significant fragmentation events visible in this plot in shades of blue.”
Removal rates
One positive note recorded is that many rocket bodies launched today, to deliver satellites, are disposed of sustainably, whether burned up using a “controlled reentry” into Earths atmosphere or placed in orbits that naturally decay within 25 years.
“Rocket bodies are the largest objects we send to space and their removal from busy orbital highways reduces the chance they explode or fragment into many pieces of dangerous debris.”
“An increasing percentage of disposal attempts are successful, but too many are left drifting in important orbits with no attempt made to remove them. A successful removal rate of at least 90% for all types of space object is required to limit the growth rate of space debris, before we can start cleaning it up.”
You can view the 2022 Space Debris Environment Report Here is the complete article.
Since 2016, the ESA’s Space Debris Office has produced this report every year.
Also seeUKSA measures size of UK space industry and its health
