Space debris led to an orbital emergency in 2025. Will anything change?

Space debris led to an orbital emergency in 2025. Will anything change?

The space debris problem has only gotten worse, and as incidents this year show. What will it take for space agencies and private companies to change their behavior?

130 Million Debris Objects in Orbit, One Just Cracked A Spacecraft Window

Microscopic space debris cracked the window of China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft in November 2025, delaying the crew’s return and triggering the country’s first emergency launch mission. The incident, sparked by a barely visible collision in orbit, has reignited growing concerns over the safety of spaceflight in an increasingly cluttered Earth orbit. As orbital traffic continues to rise, space agencies and commercial operators are grappling with ho…