Space Junk Crisis: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Orbit

What goes into orbit doesn’t always come back harmlessly — sometimes it becomes a long-term hazard. Earth’s orbit is filling up with discarded fragments from decades of space activity: broken satellites, shattered bits of metal, stray tools, and even flecks of paint traveling at blistering speeds. The International Space Station has had to maneuver out of the way of this debris, and collisions between objects only multiply the problem.

While many ideas have been floated to clean up orbital clutter, a unified, industry-wide strategy has been missing. This week, researchers at the University of Surrey proposed a new framework aimed at making outer space more sustainable: using fewer materials, fixing satellites instead of abandoning them, and recycling debris — all organized through a coordinated, system-level approach.

Experts say the concept resembles Earth’s familiar “reduce, reuse, recycle” model, but applying it to orbit is surprisingly new. Michael Dodge, a space studies professor at the University of North Dakota, noted that sustainability discussions in space have been far too limited. “It’s something the industry needs to take more seriously,” he said.

NASA currently tracks more than 25,000 pieces of debris larger than 4 inches, and estimates place the total number of small fragments above 100 million. Collectively, these objects weigh more than 10,000 tons — and many are still capable of inflicting serious damage. Decades ago, tiny debris cracked the space shuttle Challenger’s window during Sally Ride’s first mission. The Hubble Space Telescope has been struck several times, including an impact that pierced its antenna.

Two major satellite collisions in 2007 and 2009 alone created debris that now represents more than one-third of all catalogued space junk. The larger fear behind these incidents is a scenario known as Kessler Syndrome — a chain reaction of impacts so severe that parts of low-earth orbit could become unusable. A 2023 study estimated that disruptions to satellites and global communication systems could shave nearly 2% off global GDP if the issue spirals out of control.

There are promising efforts underway. SpaceX developed reusable rockets, reducing waste from launches. Companies like Astroscale are testing robotic arms to capture dead satellites. Yet, according to Jin Xuan, one of the Surrey researchers, focusing solely on standalone technologies isn’t enough. The real breakthrough lies in designing space systems with sustainability built in from the beginning — making satellites repairable, easier to refuel, or designed to burn up safely at the end of their life.

The study suggests integrating smart tools, such as AI-powered collision-avoidance systems, and repurposing existing orbital infrastructure. Future stations could serve as repair hubs or recycling points instead of letting disused equipment drift endlessly.

Xuan notes that these ideas echo the sustainability principles used in industries like chemical manufacturing, where design, maintenance, and disposal are strategically connected. Space, however, introduces legal and political hurdles that don’t exist on Earth.

International law complicates cleanup. The Outer Space Treaty states that objects launched into space remain the property of their original owner indefinitely. This rule was created to prevent interference with sensitive government equipment, but it also means no country can legally remove debris belonging to another nation. A tool that could retrieve junk could theoretically disable an active satellite — raising concerns about weaponization.

Due to these constraints, even companies testing debris-removal devices must operate within strict boundaries. Clearing another nation’s debris requires explicit permission, which can make recycling efforts nearly impossible.

Still, the treaty also requires countries to prevent harmful contamination of space, a clause that some experts believe could eventually support mandated cleanup efforts.

Xuan believes momentum is building: “People want to pursue sustainable space operations. But real progress depends on incentives — and investment.”