A large volume of debris in space is creating the risk of affecting and collapsing communication on Earth, in the event of a satellite-satellite collision.
A collision between two satellites or large pieces of space junk could send thousands of pieces of debris spinning into orbit, each of which would be capable of destroying further satellites, according to the Telegraph.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The chain reaction might clutter some orbits and make them unusable for commercial or military satellites, according to the US Defense Department’s interim Space Posture Review.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute scientist Bharath Gopalaswamy told the Telegraph that there were currently over 370,000 pieces of junk, compared with 1,100 satellites, in low-Earth orbits (LEO) between 490 and 620 miles above the planet.
A Chinese missile test that destroyed a satellite in 2007, and a recent Cosmos and Iridium satellite crash have further aggravated the situation.
The report points to these two incidents as key factors leading the US to aid the UN in issuing guidelines asking firms not to clutter orbits with junk.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“This is almost the tipping point,” Gopalaswamy said. “No satellite can be reliably shielded against this kind of destructive force.”
