Safeguarding Space

The space sector is growing exponentially, with over 12,000 spacecraft deployed in the past decade and many more planned as the world embraces the benefits provided by satellite services. This growth presents significant environmental challenges at all layers of the atmosphere. These include air pollution from launch emissions, spacecraft emissions in the stratosphere, spacecraft demise, orbital debris (legacy and new) and increased risk of collision creating more debris; with the potential to alter atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, climate change and deplete stratospheric ozone. Objects that do not disintegrate on re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere pose threats to ground safety and marine ecosystems. The increase in space objects in orbit is also affecting the darkness and quietness of the sky and Earth-based astronomical observations.

Monitoring of upper-atmosphere impacts remains limited. There is a lack of high-altitude observations, in-situ measurements and systematic tracking of re-entry emissions or resulting chemical changes. Weak coordination among actors (space agencies, scientists, engineers, industry) further hinders a full understanding of the scale, nature and significance of these potential risks. While space agencies, regulators and launching states have started implementing sustainability measures and standards to reduce impacts, the rapid increase in space activity highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices to manage potential orbital congestion and environmental impacts to all layers of the atmosphere. A multilateral, interdisciplinary approach is needed to better understand the risks and impacts and how to balance them with the essential daily services and benefits that space activity brings to humanity.