The root of today’s space debris problem stretches back to the dawn of the space age in 1957, and then aggregated by activities like China’s 2007 anti-satellite test, which alone generated over 3,000 trackable pieces of debris. Now, with the advent of mega-constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, the orbital highway is busier and riskier than ever.

International efforts to mitigate these risks have led to initiatives like the United Nations’ Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, which recommend minimizing debris release and ensuring safe disposal of spacecraft at the end of their missions. Agencies like ESA are pioneering Active Debris Removal (ADR); their upcoming ClearSpace-1 mission aims to remove debris with a robotic arm—a space-age tow truck aligned to their ambitious Zero Debris by 2030.

While Japan’s JAXA is innovating with electrodynamic tethers to hasten debris deorbiting, the space community seeks effective solutions to the challenge of orbital debris, collaboration and innovation across global and private sectors are key: propulsion industry plays a pivotal role in this case. We at Bellatrix Aerospace are pioneering the development of green space propulsion technologies. Our cutting-edge thrusters are designed not only to power satellites through their missions but also ensure a responsible end by de-orbiting them efficiently, thus minimizing the risk of creating accidental debris. With our commitment to sustainable space technologies, Bellatrix Aerospace is setting a new standard for the industry, championing the cause of space safety and environmental responsibility.

Similarly, Digantara, an Indian startup, is making strides with space situational awareness technology to track and analyze space debris, enhancing our ability to manage the traffic of objects zipping around Earth.

Despite all the efforts and planning, the existing debris won’t vanish without active intervention and immediate action. The ESA suggests that removing just 5-10 large defunct satellites or rocket bodies per year could significantly reduce the risk of cascading collisions—the dreaded Kessler Syndrome, where one smash leads to another, each creating a cloud of shrapnel that multiplies the likelihood of further impacts.

This isn't a problem for tomorrow; it's a crisis now. We dodged a bullet—or rather, a rocket booster—this time. If we don’t act, Earth’s orbit will soon become a warzone. Let’s clean it up before the dominoes start falling, for space is too precious a frontier to surrender to chaos.