What Happened
Commercial Opportunities Arise Amid Growing Orbital Congestion
The number of trackable objects in low Earth orbit is nearing 30,000, with only about 18,500 being active satellites, according to data from orbital tracking platform OrbitRadar. This has led to increased congestion and a growing need for space debris cleanup, with companies like Astroscale and ClearSpace positioning themselves for this emerging market. Astroscale has developed a magnetic capture docking system and recorded a 142% year-over-year revenue increase, while ClearSpace has developed a satellite equipped with a ‘claw arm’ for debris removal. However, the commercialization of space debris removal still faces regulatory hurdles, with liability remaining a legal gray zone. This article was first reported by an unknown source.