Prevent satellite traffic congestion in space

It's almost a traffic jam in space. There are more and more satellites and most of them move in low orbit, that is, about a thousand kilometers from the Earth.

But the ever-increasing need and use of these devices requires keeping this area clean and sturdy to avoid collisions. This issue was one of the topics of the European Space Forum held in Brussels. Some companies have already launched projects and are adapting their devices.

“All of our satellites will have active propulsion systems, which means we will be able to maneuver them to avoid collisions. We will also have a specific type of shielding, so that in the event of a small collision, the satellite elements will be protected“, explains Jordi Casanova from the Amazon Kuiper project.

According to the European Space Agency, there are about 12,500 satellites in low orbit and this number is growing.

“The space race continues to escalate. Today, for example, the United States launches groups of planets into space, and space is increasingly turning into a commercial activity. Therefore, it is interesting for private companies to launch satellites into space“, specifies Gisela Suess from the European Space Agency (ESA).

Problems increase when satellites stop working but remain in orbit. This would concern 2,700 devices.

Added to this is the extensive debris, missing parts along the way, that fly through space at high speed and can damage satellites. To limit this spread European Agency Launched Charter Zero Debris.

“The goal of this Charter is to move towards net zero by 2030. It is a non-binding document with high-level objectives, and it is community-oriented, meaning that the ESA will involve many stakeholders“, confirms Gisela Suss.

The space area is still poorly regulated, which is why the European Union intends to introduce its first law dedicated to space in the coming months.