Technology

The Junkyard in the Sky

Earth's Orbit Is Becoming Dangerously Crowded — and the Consequences Could Be Catastrophic

Anna Kowalski

Space policy researcher at the European Space Policy Institute, specializing in orbital debris governance and space sustainability.

January 22, 2026·7 min read

The Junkyard in the Sky

There are approximately 27,000 pieces of tracked debris in Earth's orbit, along with hundreds of thousands of smaller fragments too small to track but large enough to destroy a satellite. As the number of satellites in orbit grows exponentially, the risk of a cascade of collisions — Kessler Syndrome — that renders low Earth orbit unusable is becoming a serious concern.

TOPICS

space debrissatellitesspace policyKessler Syndromeorbital environment

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