Orbital Pollution Reaches Critical Level, ESA Warns
Darmstadt, Germany – Earth’s orbital surroundings is increasingly threatened by space debris, with a new assessment from the European Space Agency (ESA) revealing a current “orbital health index” of 4 – exceeding the threshold for enduring space travel. The findings underscore escalating risks of collisions, disintegrations, and near misses impacting operational satellites and future space missions.
The ESA has tightened its guidelines for orbital disposal, now requiring its obsolete satellites and probes to be removed from orbit within five years, with a cumulative collision probability before re-entry falling below one-thousandth. Though, these stricter rules currently apply only to ESA missions, raising concerns about adherence from major spacefaring nations like the USA and China.
The growing problem of space debris stems from decades of launches leaving behind non-functional spacecraft, rocket bodies, and fragmentation debris. These objects pose a meaningful threat, as collisions can create even more debris, triggering a cascading effect known as the Kessler Syndrome.”This index is intended to make the consequences of our space activities more tangible,” explains space debris expert Stijn Lemmens from ESA.
To quantify the impact,ESA has developed a new ”Environmental Index” for space missions,assigning risk levels similar to energy efficiency ratings for appliances. Missions are rated based on size, lifetime, maneuverability, explosion risk, and disintegration risk, with “A” or “1” representing the most sustainable options and higher numbers indicating greater environmental impact.
Despite individual efforts to mitigate debris creation, the overall situation remains critical. “We therefore need to do more to protect our future in space,” the ESA reports. The agency’s assessment highlights the urgent need for international cooperation and universally adopted standards for responsible space operations to ensure the long-term sustainability of access to space.
Source: European Space Agency ESA
November 3, 2025 – Nadja Podbregar
