Orbital space--the region beyond our atmosphere occupied by satellites and the International Space Station--is limited and is threatened by the dramatic increase in space debris, congestion, and military escalation. These threats increase the risk of destructive collisions, interference with communications (with and between satellites), and conflict between countries.
Unless these threats are addressed quickly, we may lose the active satellites in orbit that provide us with vital services that we rely on daily: national security and military operations, communications (TV, internet, phone), position/navigation/timing (PNT) for aircraft and ships, GPS (navigation and mapping), weather forecasting, Earth observation (climate, agriculture, and resource monitoring), financial transactions and banking, scientific research, and even entertainment.
From the European Space Agency (ESA website):
Number of rocket launches since the start of the space age in 1957 About 7070 (excluding failures)
Number of satellites these rocket launches have placed into Earth orbit About 23770
Number of these still in space
About 15860
Number of these still functioning
About 12900
(in other words, nearly 3,000 satellites are derelict pieces of junk moving at 17,500 MPH that now threaten active satellites in our orbital space)
Number of space objects regularly tracked by Space Surveillance Networks and maintained in their catalogue
About 43510
Estimated number of break-ups, explosions, collisions, or anomalous events resulting in fragmentation
More than 650
Total mass of all space objects in Earth orbit
More than 15100 tons
Not all objects are tracked and catalogued. The number of objects estimated based on statistical models to be in orbit
54000 space objects greater than 10 cm (including approx. 9300 active payloads)
1.2 million space debris objects from greater than 1 cm to 10 cm
140 million space debris objects from greater than 1 mm to 1 cm
If a sailor drops a wrench into the ocean, it is not a hazard to other ships--it simply sinks to the bottom of the ocean. However, if an astronaut drops a wrench in orbit, it becomes an uncontrolled projectile moving at approximately 17,500 MPH, can stay in orbit around the Earth for years, and can destroy any satellite or space vehicle it collides with, resulting in the loss of the critical services the satellite provides to us here on Earth.
Likewise, a disabled ship on the high seas, or a disabled car on the highway, can easily be avoided or moved to safety. In contrast, derelict satellites, rocket bodies, and other debris can remain in, and pollute, our orbital highways for centuries, depending on their altitude. There is currently no means to actively remove them--they simply accumulate and make it more dangerous and expensive for maneuverable satellites and objects to avoid them.
Additionally, more debris is reentering the atmosphere (approximately 50 to 100 tons per year) and crash landing on Earth at locations we cannot predict. For example, in March of 2024 a discarded piece of the International Space Station unexpectedly survived reentry and crashed into a family home in Florida. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured. However, because there is no nationally or internationally defined system for liability and recovery of claims related to space debris, the family continues to seek restitution from the U.S. Government (as of January 2026).
This current situation is unsustainable. Existing pieces of debris are already colliding with working space objects (in some cases damaging or destroying them), and with other pieces of debris. Every time there is a collision, more debris is generated. As the number of pieces of debris increases, the number of collisions can multiply. This could result in a cascade effect that can exponentially produce even more debris (commonly referred to as the Kessler Syndrome).
Without a means to clean up space debris, entire orbital shells (or "highways") could become prohibitively dangerous, cluttered, or expensive to operate in, thereby degrading our critical space capabilities and services.
We have no international space traffic management system. Although we have the Outer Space Treaty and other treaties related to space, none of them address space traffic management.
There are no binding rules or regulations to determine who moves in space, when, or how. Even basic terms like "outer space" are not defined. Coordination and communication between satellite operators is ad-hoc, with much of it still relying on emails and phone calls.
Imagine driving a car without traffic rules--you just rely on driver to driver coordination. At a four way intersection there is no default rule prescribing the right of way...you just have to figure it out on the spot. Maybe the other drivers communicate with you or maybe they don't--it's all voluntary. Still anxious to get behind the wheel for a drive?
Imagine airlines trying to land at an airport without the FAA--no rules and no air traffic controllers to direct who goes where, when, and how. Again, it all has to be coordinated ad-hoc between the pilots (who can choose to communicate and share information/data, or not). Would you continue to fly?
Yet, we continue to tolerate this situation for space despite increasing: (1) congestion, (2) dangerous debris, (3) commercial competition among operators with widely varying capabilities for maneuver and communications, and--as if that wasn't sufficiently dangerous, (4) unchecked military escalation.
Outer space, Earth's orbital shells, and celestial bodies (the Moon, Mars, asteroids, etc.) are considered to be a "commons"--defined as property and resources shared by everyone in the community. Thus, space belongs to no one person, group, or nation. It belongs to all peoples of the world in equal share. The Outer Space Treaty states: "Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means."
Despite this ownership prohibition, a very small number of powerful and well-resourced spacefaring nations (primarily the US. China, and Russia) and corporations are occupying and exercising nearly complete control over Earth's orbital space with their satellites. In fact, one single human being (Elon Musk) controls approximately two thirds of all functioning satellites in outer space (as of January 2026). These countries and corporations are also now seeking to occupy and mine the Moon, Mars, and even asteroids (once it is technically feasible).
These orbital, territorial, and [soon to be] mined resources are being captured and used by these first movers for their benefit and profit. They are not being shared despite the Outer Space Treaty's mandate that space exploration "shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind."
These first movers are deciding--unilaterally--how the rest of the world should or should not benefit from these resources. They are ignoring the common ownership interests that all countries and peoples have in each resource. They have passed laws that allow private companies to mine and own celestial materials, giving them control over the market for, and distribution of, these resources. These decisions have all been made without international democratic deliberation, voting, and rulemaking. This is imperialism, not the rule of law.
Outer space is being militarized at a dangerous rate. This militarization, primarily by the U.S., China, and Russia is virtually unchecked and unimpeded as all three countries pour billions of dollars each year into the development and deployment of space weapons--exceeding an estimated $70 billion in 2024 alone. The U.S. has initiated the "Golden Dome" space-based interceptor (SBI) missile defense system. Costs for this system range from $160 billion to as much as over $1 trillion over the next 20 years.
Additionally, this system will deploy in thousands of more satellites and sensors to detect and destroy missiles immediately after they launch (in their boost phase) and while they are in flight in space. China, Russia, and other countries will likely deploy more satellites to monitor and defend against SBI. This will further increase and exacerbate the congestion and debris problems.
Many experts believe that China and Russia will also seek to counter SBI by producing even more nuclear weapons to ensure the U.S. system can be overcome during a conflict. There is no space arms control treaty or agreement to prevent this escalation.
Additionally, we risk triggering a conflict through miscalculation, mistake, or misperception resulting from the operations of the military and civilian satellites already operating in orbit. For instance, a malfunctioning satellite that moves close to an adversary's satellite could be misinterpreted as a attack. If the adversary counter-attacks, this could lead to: further escalation, the additional destruction of both military and civilian space and terrestrial assets, the loss of critical civil and national security capabilities, and--potentially--a nuclear conflict.
Currently, there are no defined or agreed upon rules to determine the difference between hostile and peaceful actions, or even assess actions that may indicate hostile intent. There are no rules for how close you can get to an adversary's satellite or what communications are required to avoid or de-escalate potential accidents or conflicts.
And, as our current military escalation continues, the military-industrial complex continues to make billions more in profits, all as the risk of conflict and war increases.
James Baldwin (1962)