Roughly 10,000 satellites currently orbit Earth, and projections suggest that number could rise to 60,000 in the near future. As satellites outlive their usefulness, they can become long-lasting orbital debris, increasing the probability of collisions and cascading damage that can disrupt communications, navigation, and critical services on the ground.

What does that mean to those of us who are on the ground, not in low (or high) Earth orbit? This growing congestion increases the chances that space debris could interfere with communications and other operations on Earth. Join Dr. Brenda Wells to understand how this risk is evolving, what it means for resilience and liability, and the practical measures that can reduce orbital pollution and help safeguard the sustainability of space operations.