Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines

Orbit is a finite resource. Without proactive mitigation, certain orbital bands risk becoming unusable due to cascading collisions.

The Kessler Syndrome

First proposed by Donald Kessler in 1978, it is a theoretical scenario where the density of objects in LEO is high enough that collisions between objects cause a cascade—each collision generating space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions.

The 25-Year Rule

Current international guidelines suggest that satellites in LEO should de-orbit naturally or be actively removed within 25 years of their end of mission. Enforcement remains entirely national and patchy.