The Looming Threat: Space Junk Endangers Satellite Survival

The risk of anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons was highlighted when Russia conducted a test in 2021, creating a cloud of debris that poses a threat to satellites and space missions. According to a research article, the cascade of collisions caused by shattered satellites could render Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) unusable in just 40 years. The growing problem of space debris from past tests and other space activities is threatening satellites and limiting the launch of additional satellites. The weaponization of outer space could lead to the destruction of most, if not all, satellites in orbit, with catastrophic consequences. Controlling satellite warfare may require the same level of deterrence as the nuclear arms race.