SPACE DEBRIS THREATENS EARTH ORBITS AS DEBRYSATellite CROWD REACHES CRITICAL LEVEL

In a worrying trend, the accumulation of space debris in Earth orbit is reaching catastrophic levels, with experts warning that certain orbits may be becoming perilously crowded.
According to NASA, nearly 7 million kilograms of debris now orbits the planet, including the remnants of obsolete satellites, tiny paint flecks, and countless other pieces of junk. The US Department of Defense's global Space Surveillance Network currently tracks over 27,000 pieces of space junk, with many more too small to be detected but potentially hazardous to spacecraft.
The accumulation of debris creates a self-perpetuating cycle, known as Kessler syndrome, named after retired NASA engineer Don Kessler, who first proposed the mechanism in 1978. As collisions between satellites and other pieces of debris occur, they produce even more junk, which in turn increases the risk of further accidents.
At its most extreme, this phenomenon could render entire orbits unusable due to the sheer volume of debris. According to NASA, low Earth orbit is already pushing the limits that could lead to a catastrophic feedback loop.
The growing number of satellites launched by companies like SpaceX and Amazon is seen as a significant contributor to this problem. SpaceX's Starlink system has over 7,000 satellites in orbit, while Amazon's Kuiper internet project plans to deploy more than 3,000 satellites once completed.
In response to concerns about space debris, some new satellite systems are designed to de-orbit at the end of their useful life instead of lingering in potentially hazardous orbits. However, industry leaders and experts warn that even these measures may not be enough to mitigate the growing threat posed by Kessler syndrome.