Current State of Space Traffic
As of 2022, there are over 5,000 operational satellites along with hundreds of thousands of debris objects being tracked by global SSA networks. The growing congestion in low Earth orbit threatens the ongoing safe and sustainable use of space for decades to come.

Rise in Satellite Launches
The number of annual satellite launches has increased significantly over the past decade driven by growing demand for broadband internet connectivity, Earth observation, and other commercial space applications. Global Space Situational Awareness (SSA)Some projections estimate over 30,000 satellites could be launched into low Earth orbits by 2030 to support companies like SpaceX's Starlink constellation. While boosting access to space, this rapid rise has exacerbated the existing space debris problem through accidental fragmentations and explosions during orbital disposal.

Orbital Collisions are Increasing Risks
With more objects in increasingly crowded orbital lanes, the probability of collisions is growing. Even minor impacts between satellites or with floating debris can generate thousands more pieces of high-speed orbital shrapnel. The 2007 anti-satellite missile test by China alone contributed over 3,000 traceable debris fragments. A single collision event in low Earth orbit now has the potential to trigger a cascading series of impacts called the Kessler syndrome, which could make entire orbital regimes inaccessible for decades.

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