The
European
Space
Agency
(ESA)
is
currently
in
discussions
with
SpaceX
about
the
possibility
of
the
American
aerospace
giant
joining
an
international
initiative
to
tackle
the
ever-growing
issue
of
space
debris.
ESA
has
been
actively
working
to
address
the
escalating
risks
posed
by
orbital
junk,
which
threatens
both
operational
satellites
and
future
space
missions.
ESA
Director
General
Josef
Aschbacher
shared
that
the
agency’s
“Zero
Debris
Charter”
has
received
backing
from
over
110
countries
and
organisations,
with
a
shared
goal
of
halting
new
debris
creation
by
2030.
While
SpaceX
hasn’t
yet
signed
the
charter,
Aschbacher
remains
hopeful
about
progress,
noting,
“We
will
keep
raising
these
issues
because
they
are
essential.”
Understanding
Space
Debris
Today,
Earth’s
orbit
hosts
roughly
18,897
pieces
of
trackable
space
junk,
according
to
Harvard
astronomer
Jonathan
McDowell.
This
debris
includes
inactive
satellites,
rocket
bodies,
and
fragments
from
earlier
collisions.
Although
ESA
doesn’t
regulate
space
activity,
it’s
committed
to
fostering
international
collaboration
on
this
urgent
issue.
“The
fact
that
we
have
the
charter
on
the
table
and
that
partners
are
signing
up
is
very
encouraging,”
Aschbacher
added.
The
Importance
of
SpaceX’s
Involvement
SpaceX,
with
around
6,300
active
satellites
out
of
an
estimated
10,300
in
low
Earth
orbit,
plays
a
significant
role
in
this
discussion.
Its
Starlink
constellation
alone
accounts
for
nearly
two-thirds
of
all
operational
satellites
in
this
region.
New
constellations
from
other
companies,
including
Amazon
and
Chinese
satellite
networks,
are
adding
to
the
congestion,
making
efforts
to
curb
space
debris
even
more
pressing.
Real-World
Implications
of
Space
Junk
The
risks
are
far
from
theoretical.
For
example,
a
recent
incident
saw
a
Chinese
rocket
body
disintegrate
after
a
collision
with
debris,
forming
one
of
the
largest
space
debris
fields
recorded.
Additionally,
past
anti-satellite
missile
tests
by
various
countries
have
compounded
the
problem,
contributing
further
to
the
crowded
orbital
environment.
As
ESA
continues
talks
with
SpaceX,
the
focus
remains
on
ensuring
a
cleaner,
safer
orbit
for
all
stakeholders
in
the
space
sector.