Space junk threatens national security

Outlook

Modern economies depend on satellites for communication, navigation, weather forecasting and other critical functions. The greatest threat to these satellites and the services they provide is the risk of collision with debris or other spacecraft. Objects in orbit travel faster than bullets, so impacts from very small objects can do very great damage.

The problem will get worse as orbits become more crowded and debris accumulates. The pace of deterioration is accelerating because each collision multiplies the number of fragments and therefore the probability of future collision, and because the cost of building and launching satellites is falling.

Impacts

• There is no binding international agreement regulating space debris; guidelines exist but are frequently ignored.
• A major ‘debris cascade’ could cause severe and long-lasting economic damage and loss of life.
• Systems for tracking objects in orbit have military applications, discouraging the sharing of technology and data that would improve safety.
• Systems to remove debris will be controversial; the same technology could be used in anti-satellite weapons.
• Orbits are a scarce resource; competition will intensify and become more politicised as they become more crowded and more valuable.