More than 1,200 pieces of space junk fell back to Earth in 2024 alone, raising fresh concerns about the growing danger of space debris and the possibility of a destructive chain reaction in Earth’s orbit, warns a new report from the European Space Agency (ESA).
As space gets increasingly crowded, satellites and rocket parts are crashing into our atmosphere more frequently now more than three times a day on average. Many of these are intact satellite parts or entire rocket bodies. The report warns that without action, the risk of orbital collisions will keep rising.
ESA estimates there are over 1.2 million objects larger than 1 cm currently orbiting the Earth. Even a fragment that small can seriously damage satellites or the International Space Station (ISS). Experts say the number is only going to grow as more satellites are launched and solar activity increases.
The report highlights a worrying scenario called Kessler Syndrome first proposed in 1978 by NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler. It describes a future where the amount of debris in space becomes so high that one collision triggers another, creating a chain reaction of space crashes. If that happens, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) where most satellites operate could become too dangerous to use, putting an end to many space activities.
Today, Low Earth Orbit is filled with satellites handling everything from GPS and weather to communication and defense. It’s becoming the world’s largest space junkyard, with nearly 6,000 tons of material floating around. And the rise of private space companies launching more and more satellites has made the situation even more complicated.
“To stop the spread of Kessler Syndrome, we need to start actively removing space junk from orbit,” the ESA report urges.
The dangers of falling debris are no longer just a future concern they’re already showing up on the ground. In December 2024, Kenya’s space agency reported that a 500 kg metal fragment from a rocket landed in Mukuku village. More recently, a chunk of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crash-landed in someone’s backyard in Poland. It had re-entered the atmosphere in an uncontrolled way after launching Starlink satellites from California.
With more satellites and rockets heading into space every year, scientists warn that without a plan to clean up the mess, Earth’s orbit could become a high-speed junk zone too dangerous for astronauts, satellites, or future missions.