For subscribers
Space debris isn’t a faraway problem, and it demands urgent collective action
With more than 13,000 active satellites circling the planet, avoiding collisions is critical to protect essential services like the internet and navigation systems.
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Recent incidents have illustrated the tangible and growing consequences of orbital congestion.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Tomas Lamanauskas and Mario Maniewicz
Outer space has always been a source of inspiration and opportunity. The Artemis II mission, which returned to Earth on April 10, has set humans farther from Earth than ever before. The historic lunar flyby shows what humanity can achieve when nations and industries come together to push boundaries.
After nearly 70 years of satellite launches and 65 years since the first human spaceflight, space has become integral to modern life. Sending up spacecraft has become a frequent occurrence but ensuring responsible end-of-life management has not kept pace.
