echnical Report: Space debris. Interconnected Disaster Risks 2023: Risk Tipping Points

At present, there are approximately 8,300 satellites actively orbiting the Earth, gathering and distributing vital data for space science, Earth observation, meteorology, disaster early warning systems, telecommunication, and navigation. Satellites make our lives safer, more convenient and connected, and represent critical infrastructure that is now essential for a functioning society. However, as the number of satellites increases, so does the problem of space debris, posing a threat to both functioning satellites and the future of our orbit. This technical background report for the 2023 edition of the Interconnected Disaster Risks report analyses the root causes, drivers, impacts and potential solutions for the space debris risk tipping point our world is facing through an analysis of academic literature, media articles and expert interviews