Space is becoming dangerously crowded—and the numbers prove it.
Space today is like an invisible highway. Billions of people rely on it every day—whether they realize it or not. From internet access to navigation and climate monitoring, satellites quietly power our world.
And yet, the situation above our heads is spiraling out of control.
Most people don’t know it, but the car sitting in your driveway is often “smarter” than the multi-million-euro satellites orbiting Earth. Despite their value, many of these systems operate with limited autonomy and without adequate protection from threats—especially space debris.
The Invisible Threat We Can No Longer Ignore
We’re missing more than just a few regulations. What’s lacking is a coordinated, global framework to manage an increasingly congested and dangerous orbital environment. Because unlike a traffic jam on Earth, a collision in space can take out entire satellite networks—leading to internet outages, broken communications, and damaged infrastructure that millions rely on.
Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact, it’s precisely because we can’t see it that we underestimate how serious the threat has become.
What Happens When Satellites Collide?
Let’s take a look at one real-world example.
Case Study: Intelsat 33E
Intelsat 33E was a 6-ton communications satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO), launched in 2016 and operated by Intelsat (US). Positioned at 60° East, it served large parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
On October 19, 2024, U.S. Space Command reported that the satellite broke apart at around 04:30 UTC. Around 20 pieces were initially detected. But subsequent SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) monitoring revealed at least 700 fragments larger than 10 cm.
And according to simulations, over 16,000 fragments larger than 1 cm were likely generated.
That’s just from one satellite.
And most of that debris is still untrackable. It’s a glimpse into how fragile and underprepared our space environment really is.
Why GEO Matters
Geostationary orbit is an incredibly valuable and limited resource:
Fixed Positioning: At 35,786 km altitude, satellites in GEO match Earth’s rotation, staying “parked” over one location.
Critical Infrastructure: GEO hosts global communications, weather monitoring, and military systems.
No Natural Clean-up: Unlike low orbits, there’s no atmospheric drag to remove debris. Once it’s there, it stays for centuries.
Here’s what we currently estimate exists in the GEO protected region:
1,000 objects larger than 1 meter
2,200 objects between 10 cm and 1 meter
64,000 fragments between 1 mm and 10 cm
It’s a minefield. And one major collision in this environment could disrupt services across continents.
The Growing Risk of Fragmentation
According to ESA, fragmentation events can result from:
Accidental failures (e.g., design flaws, battery overcharge)
Aerodynamic stress
Collisions
Intentional destruction (e.g., ASAT tests)
Propulsion system explosions
While collisions used to be rare, that’s no longer the case:
1975–1980: Collisions caused ~2% of all fragmentation events
2015–2020: That number rose to 5%
2020–2025: Now, collisions account for 50% of known fragmentation events
And even this is an underestimate. Nearly 28% of events are classified as “anomalies,” often indicating micro-debris or meteoroid impacts—meaning we’re not tracking the majority of incidents effectively.
The Most Dangerous Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
LEO is the most crowded and chaotic zone, with the following estimated debris population:
40,500 objects >10 cm
1.1 million objects between 1–10 cm
130 million fragments between 1 mm–1 cm
Of all this, fewer than 40,000 are actively tracked.
That means the vast majority of dangerous debris is completely invisible to our monitoring systems.
The Megaconstellation Challenge
The explosion in satellite numbers is compounding the issue.
Starlink has launched over 5,500 satellites, aiming for 42,000
OneWeb, Kuiper, Guowang and others are adding tens of thousands more
Between December 2022 and May 2023, Starlink alone conducted 25,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers
That’s one every 10 minutes.
A study published in Ecological Economics suggests LEO can sustain a maximum of 72,000 satellites before the risk of a runaway chain reaction—also known as Kessler Syndrome—becomes critical. At current rates, we’re just a few years away.
So What Needs to Happen?
Right now, managing space traffic is like driving in dense fog without headlights—hoping for the best.
And while this risk is thousands of kilometers above us, it affects life on Earth every day.
Satellites:
Power communication networks
Enable global security systems
Monitor climate and disasters
Support navigation and critical infrastructure
One collision could jeopardize entire services.
Immediate Actions Required:
✅ Stronger international regulation for satellite launches and sustainable deorbiting
✅ Active debris removal to reduce legacy risks
✅ Real-time tracking systems using AI and modern sensors to monitor both cooperative and uncooperative objects
Our Role: Tracking What Others Miss
At ARCA Dynamics, we deliver high-precision orbit determination and monitoring of space objects, both cooperative and uncooperative. Our technology is built for real-time, resilient surveillance—backed by partnerships with the EU SSTframework and U.S. Space Force.
In a space environment growing more complex every day, we give you the data you need to act before it’s too late.
Want to learn more about how we can help your mission stay safe?