There Are Already 16,000 Satellites in Earth's Orbit: How Will We Manage the Next 100,000?

There are already 16,000 satellites in Earth’s orbit. How will we manage the next 100,000?

Unlike aircraft or cars, we can’t easily take satellites to a repair workshop.

There are already 16,000 satellites in Earth's orbit: How will we manage the next 100,000?

Earth's orbit is getting crowded. About 16,000 satellites currently circle our planet, supporting everything from GPS navigation and weather forecasting to banking, emergency services and internet communications.

Look at these dots. Earth’s orbit is a dangerous mess.

Space debris is a safety risk, both on the Earth’s surface and in orbit.

There are already 16,000 satellites in Earth’s orbit. How will we manage the next 100,000? - Stuff South Africa

Earth’s orbit is getting crowded. About 16,000 satellites currently circle our planet, supporting everything from GPS navigation and weather forecasting to banking, emergency services and internet communications. Dozens more are launched every few weeks. Some estimates suggest the total number of satellites could exceed 100,000 within this decade, with more conservative estimates landing on up to 60,000 satellites by 2030 – still a staggering am…