The Clean Orbit Foundation is a research and advocacy organization that stands as the global nexus for space sustainability, driving awareness, education, and collaboration. We serve as the one-stop shop, providing in-depth insights into space debris and sustainability, while actively raising awareness about the challenges we confront. Simultaneously, we actively support initiatives that drive the evolution of sustainable standards and best practices. As an open and transparent organization, the COF collaborates closely with international stakeholders – governments, agencies, commercial entities, and academia – forging a unified trajectory toward a truly sustainable orbit.

In the near term, the world can expect the Clean Orbit Foundation (COF) to intensify its efforts in raising awareness about the critical issue of space debris. COF will continue to advocate for responsible space practices and drive collaboration among governments, agencies, commercial entities, and academia to address the challenges posed by space debris.

Additionally, COF will focus on educational initiatives aimed at informing and engaging the general public about the importance of space sustainability. Overall, in the near term, the world can anticipate COF to play a proactive role in driving awareness, collaboration, and innovation toward achieving a cleaner and safer orbital environment.

Space debris – also known as space junk or orbital debris – refers to man-made objects in orbit around the Earth that no longer serve any useful purpose. These objects can vary in size, from tiny fragments to defunct satellites and spent rocket stages. Space debris can include old satellites, spent rocket stages, fragments from satellite collisions or explosions, and even small particles such as paint flecks.

Typically, any human-made object left in orbit qualifies as space debris. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), models suggest there are over 36,500 objects larger than 10cm, more than 1 million objects ranging from 1 to 10cm, and more than 130 million objects sized between 1mm and 1cm. What’s concerning about these models is that only about 35,150 of these objects can be actively tracked.

While technology is advancing, our current tracking capabilities still lag, preventing a full grasp of the severity of the threat and the accuracy of these models.

Space debris poses a significant risk to operational spacecraft and satellites, as even small debris traveling at high speeds – over 17,500mph or ~28,163kph – can cause serious damage upon impact. Collisions with space debris can result in the generation of even more debris, exacerbating the problem and increasing the risk of further collisions in a phenomenon known as the “Kessler Syndrome.”

The accumulation of space debris in Earth’s orbit poses challenges for space exploration, satellite operations, and even the safety of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Efforts to address the issue of space debris include tracking and monitoring debris, implementing measures to avoid collisions, and developing technologies to remove debris from orbit.

The Kessler Syndrome represents a looming threat in space exploration, characterized by a cascading collision of space debris in orbit. Coined by NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in the 1970s, it depicts a scenario where the density of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) reaches a critical threshold. In such a scenario, collisions between orbiting objects trigger a chain reaction, generating more debris and escalating the likelihood of further collisions. This chain reaction, if realized, could render LEO virtually unusable for generations.

Following Kessler’s seminal paper, NASA established the Orbital Debris Program Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as documented by Wall (2021). Kessler’s collaboration with Burton G. Cour-Palais elucidated the potential for a cascading event in orbit, leading to the moniker “The Kessler Syndrome” gaining prominence in scientific discourse.

In essence, the Kessler Syndrome underscores the imperative of proactive measures to mitigate space debris and safeguard the future of space exploration.

Governments, agencies, and commercial entities face challenges in solving the space debris threat independently for several reasons:

• Complexity of the Issue: Space debris is a multifaceted problem with technological, regulatory, and international dimensions. Addressing it requires coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholders and borders.
• Lack of Comprehensive Solutions: Space debris mitigation and removal technologies are still in development, and there’s no single solution to the problem. Efforts to remove debris or prevent collisions require significant investment in research, development, and implementation. Multiple companies are already looking to test and fully implement solutions within the decade (i.e. Astroscale, ClearSpace, KMI, etc.)
• International Collaboration: Space debris poses a universal challenge impacting every spacefaring nation. Effective management demands collaboration among governments, space agencies, commercial entities, and international organizations to craft robust policies, regulations, and technologies. The COF serves as a unifying force, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders to tackle this pressing issue collectively.
• Regulatory Challenges: The legal framework governing space activities is complex, and marked by divergent regulations across nations. Establishing global agreements and standards for mitigating and removing space debris is crucial yet daunting to achieve. It’s vital to grasp that the space domain presents unique and formidable challenges. Moreover, its borderless nature, absence of uniform standards, swift technological progress, enforcement constraints, and geopolitical and economic factors all pose significant obstacles to effective space regulation.
• Financial and Technological Barriers: Space debris mitigation and removal efforts require substantial financial resources and advanced technology. Governments and commercial entities may face limitations in funding and accessing the necessary technology to address the problem comprehensively.
• Incentives and Priorities: Governments and commercial entities may prioritize other space-related activities, such as satellite launches and space exploration missions, over space debris mitigation efforts due to competing interests and resource constraints. This can be a major concern as space activities grow rapidly in orbit. 

Collaboration among governments, agencies, and commercial entities is pivotal in surmounting these obstacles. Without unified efforts, solving the space debris threat may seem insurmountable.

Public-private partnerships are crucial for addressing the threat of space debris and creating sustainability in orbit for multiple reasons:

• Combined Resources: Public-private partnerships leverage the resources and expertise of both government agencies and private companies. Government agencies often provide funding, regulatory frameworks, and access to research facilities, while private companies contribute innovative technologies, entrepreneurial agility, and market-driven solutions. Understanding the differences between them is key in making space activities more sustainable long-term. 
• Innovation and Technology: Private companies are often at the forefront of innovation, developing cutting-edge technologies for space exploration and satellite operations. By partnering with government agencies, these companies can access funding and support for research and development, accelerating the pace of technological advancements in space debris mitigation and removal.
• Operational Capabilities: Private companies bring operational capabilities and expertise in space missions and satellite operations. By collaborating with government agencies, they can integrate their solutions into existing space infrastructure and contribute to the implementation of sustainable practices in orbit. We see this a lot today with commercial entities taking over launch providing, space station development, and even Moon landing opportunities. 
• Flexibility and Agility: Private companies are known for their flexibility and agility in responding to emerging challenges and opportunities whereas governments and agencies can be slow to react and change. Public-private partnerships allow for more nimble decision-making and adaptive strategies, enabling quicker responses to evolving threats posed by space debris. 
• Shared Responsibility: Space debris poses a shared risk to all spacefaring nations and commercial entities. Public-private partnerships foster a sense of shared responsibility among stakeholders, encouraging collaboration, information sharing, and collective action to mitigate the threat and promote sustainability in orbit. While governments and agencies dominated the era that created the most space debris, commercial entities, and the world have the most to lose if nothing is done about it. 
• Economic Efficiency: By pooling resources and expertise, public-private partnerships can achieve greater economic efficiency in addressing the space debris threat. Shared costs, risk-sharing mechanisms, and collaborative research and development efforts can result in cost-effective solutions for space debris mitigation and removal.

In summary, public-private partnerships play a critical role in harnessing the collective capabilities of governments and private companies to address the threat of space debris and create a sustainable orbital environment for future generations. Collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility are key principles driving the success of these partnerships in achieving common goals.

The short answer is yes – sort of. There are growing efforts around the world to push for remediation technologies. Most notably, both ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have planned tests for their respective Active Debris Removal (ADR) technologies in 2025. While this is the case, there is still no proven technology, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t close to a breakthrough. One thing is for sure, we are much farther along than we were a decade ago.

Several technologies and concepts exist for removing space debris in orbit, although none have been fully implemented on a large scale. Some of the proposed methods for space debris removal include:

• Active Debris Removal (ADR) Satellites: These are spacecraft specifically designed to rendezvous with and capture defunct satellites or other large pieces of debris, then either deorbit them or move them to a graveyard orbit.
• Harpoon Systems: Harpoon-based systems involve launching a harpoon-like device from a spacecraft to capture and secure debris, allowing for controlled deorbiting.
• Nets and Snares: Nets and snares can be deployed to ensnare debris objects, capturing them and allowing for controlled removal or deorbiting.
• Electrodynamic Tethers: Electrodynamic tethers are long conductive wires that can be deployed from a spacecraft to interact with Earth’s magnetic field, creating drag that slows down the spacecraft and causes it to deorbit.
• Laser Ablation: Laser ablation involves using ground-based lasers or satellite-based lasers to target and vaporize small pieces of debris, causing them to slow down and eventually deorbit due to increased atmospheric drag.

We need to underscore that these technologies are still unproven, but it’s worth noting that efforts are underway to initiate the process of decluttering our orbit.

While the technology exists, viable solutions are still years away. However, experts observe that technological advancements outpace policy developments significantly. Considering that technical solutions are underway, some argue that policy might pose a more substantial obstacle. This perspective is understandable given the bureaucratic challenges inherent in political processes. Even with successful technological advancements, the current state of space policy and law presents significant hurdles. With minimal international policy or law, existing frameworks are largely voluntary. Consequently, technical solutions encounter formidable political obstacles. While we should and need to continue technical research and development efforts, advocating for an overhaul of outdated space debris and space sustainability policies and laws governing our orbit is essential.

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