The new space race forces Europe to choose: pollute or get left behind
The rapid increase in satellite launches is creating a dangerous level of congestion in low Earth orbit, raising the risk of the Kessler syndrome. Europe faces the challenge of maintaining space access while addressing the environmental and safety risks of orbital debris.
Why it matters
The potential loss of satellite infrastructure would severely disrupt global communication, navigation, and critical economic systems.
The race for space is accelerating, with US and Chinese interests staking out an increasingly crowded orbit. Space belongs to everyone, but regulation is lagging behind plans to launch ever more satellites. Europe faces a difficult balancing act: how can it secure access to low Earth orbit without fuelling the congestion it is trying to curb?
Picture this scenario. A major solar storm knocks out communication with satellites in low Earth orbit – the region of space extending up to 2,000 kilometres above our planet? How long would it take before satellites began colliding?
In 2018, the answer would have been around 165 days. As of last year, that had fallen to just 2.5 days, according to research by US and Canadian academics including astrophysicist Samantha Lawler.
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