Will Parker

So if there's a collision or an explosion, anything that's going to cause debris in low Earth orbit, the consequence of that event is getting much greater over time because it'll take a lot longer to clean it up.

So if there's a collision or an explosion, anything that's going to cause debris in low Earth orbit, the consequence of that event is getting much greater over time because it'll take a lot longer to clean it up.

So the Kessler syndrome is always a concern, right? This runaway growth in the debris population. It's something that we take a lot of care to prevent. It's important that we're able to model these scenarios and understand how our actions in terms of how we populate space and how satellite operators are acting impact this long-term sustainability.

So the Kessler syndrome is always a concern, right? This runaway growth in the debris population. It's something that we take a lot of care to prevent. It's important that we're able to model these scenarios and understand how our actions in terms of how we populate space and how satellite operators are acting impact this long-term sustainability.

Because once this cascading debris generation starts, there's no way to stop it. And once space is cluttered, it can stay cluttered for decades or longer. because it'll close off key routes to space. Today, satellite operators are avoiding collisions by performing maneuvers.

Because once this cascading debris generation starts, there's no way to stop it. And once space is cluttered, it can stay cluttered for decades or longer. because it'll close off key routes to space. Today, satellite operators are avoiding collisions by performing maneuvers.

So back in the 80s, 90s, early 2000s, we sort of came up with these strategies for how we would avoid collisions between satellites. But back then, we, again, just figured that space was big. So it was mostly just an academic exercise. Today, that is not the case. It is fully operational. The Starlink Constellation did over 100,000 collision avoidance maneuvers last year.

So back in the 80s, 90s, early 2000s, we sort of came up with these strategies for how we would avoid collisions between satellites. But back then, we, again, just figured that space was big. So it was mostly just an academic exercise. Today, that is not the case. It is fully operational. The Starlink Constellation did over 100,000 collision avoidance maneuvers last year.

So it's something that is very much used in practice by necessity, right? We need to avoid debris objects and other satellites because it is getting so congested in space. And that's making it more difficult to operate spacecraft there.

So it's something that is very much used in practice by necessity, right? We need to avoid debris objects and other satellites because it is getting so congested in space. And that's making it more difficult to operate spacecraft there.

Well, our study went to 2100 and we saw that relative to the year 2000, we're seeing in the worst case scenario, at least a reduction of 50% in our carrying capacity, the number of satellites that we can sustain. It depends, right? The point of the study is to be able to show that we have a lot of levers at our control to be able to manage the space debris problem.

Well, our study went to 2100 and we saw that relative to the year 2000, we're seeing in the worst case scenario, at least a reduction of 50% in our carrying capacity, the number of satellites that we can sustain. It depends, right? The point of the study is to be able to show that we have a lot of levers at our control to be able to manage the space debris problem.

is to more effectively manage our access to space and make sure that internationally we have rules of how we operate spacecraft and how we manage our use of space. The other that is maybe unintuitive is that you don't need to be an aerospace engineer to make a difference in reducing the space debris problem.

is to more effectively manage our access to space and make sure that internationally we have rules of how we operate spacecraft and how we manage our use of space. The other that is maybe unintuitive is that you don't need to be an aerospace engineer to make a difference in reducing the space debris problem.

Everybody can sort of do their part to try to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and every country should We're trying to do that for lots of reasons, right? We don't need more reasons to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but it turns out that reducing those emissions not only helps us on Earth, it also helps to enable the long-term sustainability of space, which was a cool outcome.

Everybody can sort of do their part to try to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and every country should We're trying to do that for lots of reasons, right? We don't need more reasons to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but it turns out that reducing those emissions not only helps us on Earth, it also helps to enable the long-term sustainability of space, which was a cool outcome.

Yeah, so what we found is in the lower part of the atmosphere, we can fit a lot of satellites if we're trying to avoid this long-term debris accumulation that we're looking at. Because as long as you stay in the part of the atmosphere that is very thick, then any time you have some sort of debris generating event, it'll be removed from orbit very quickly.

Yeah, so what we found is in the lower part of the atmosphere, we can fit a lot of satellites if we're trying to avoid this long-term debris accumulation that we're looking at. Because as long as you stay in the part of the atmosphere that is very thick, then any time you have some sort of debris generating event, it'll be removed from orbit very quickly.

And so what we recommended in the paper is if you want to make sure that you are not doing long-term damage to the environment, it's really important that satellite operators reduce the altitudes that they operate at. So if you fly at a lower altitude, it ends up being a little bit safer for the overall environment.

And so what we recommended in the paper is if you want to make sure that you are not doing long-term damage to the environment, it's really important that satellite operators reduce the altitudes that they operate at. So if you fly at a lower altitude, it ends up being a little bit safer for the overall environment.