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The Orbit Needs You
What you can do — right now and long term.
Individual ActionsTreaty ReformStudent Resources
Section 01
Immediate Impact
Small steps you can take today to help safeguard LEO.
Contact Your Representatives
The 5-Year Rule passed because of FCC regulatory pressure. International treaty reform requires Congressional awareness. A five-minute message to your representative about ASAT test bans can make a difference.
Contact Your Representative →Share This Research
Orbital debris is undercovered in mainstream media. Sharing this research with students, educators, or policymakers creates the public awareness that drives political will.
CIVIC ACTION
Contact Your Representative
Turn research into advocacy. Reach out to your US House representative to prioritize orbital debris policy.
Step 1
Choose a Policy Reform to Champion
Select the specific policy ask you want to advocate for, or choose a general support statement.
Strengthen international debris guidelines
Help strengthen international commitments to prevent new orbital debris.
Analysis of orbital environment models suggests stronger international adherence to debris mitigation standards could reduce the projected number of tracked objects in low Earth orbit by roughly 8,000 by 2050.
Support the global ASAT test ban
Build on the United States' commitment against destructive anti-satellite testing.
Models show that banning destructive ASAT tests could avoid roughly 5,000 new tracked debris fragments over the next few decades.
Support an international debris removal authority
Support U.S. leadership in responsibly removing the most dangerous debris from orbit.
Forecasts indicate a sustained active debris removal effort could lower the projected number of tracked objects by roughly 15,000 by 2050.
Support US leadership on de-orbit standards
Encourage responsible end-of-life practices for satellites around the world.
Industry and modeling studies suggest more consistent end-of-life disposal practices could reduce the projected number of tracked objects in low Earth orbit by roughly 10,000 by 2050.
I support stronger debris policy generally
Make orbital debris a continuing priority for U.S. space policy.
Recent analysis suggests that keeping debris mitigation visible in U.S. space policy can prevent thousands of additional tracked objects from crowding low Earth orbit over the coming decades.
Section 02
Who's Working on This
Key coalitions, space agencies, and advocacy groups dedicating resources to space safety.
ESA Space Debris Office
The European Space Agency's dedicated team tracking, modeling, and developing solutions for the orbital debris environment.
Secure World Foundation
A non-partisan think tank promoting cooperative solutions for space sustainability and peaceful uses of outer space.
Space Safety Coalition
An industry alliance of satellite operators committed to debris mitigation best practices and responsible orbital behavior.
The Planetary Society
The world's largest nonprofit space advocacy organization, campaigning for science-based space policy including orbital sustainability.
Section 03
Go Deeper
Resources, programs, and pathways for students who want to take this further.
Competitions & Programs
- IOAAInternational Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics
- NASA InternshipsOpportunities for high school and college students at intern.nasa.gov
- ESA Trainee ProgramYoung Graduate Trainee positions at the European Space Agency
- Conrad ChallengeGlobal student technology and innovation startup competition
Academic Papers to Read
- Kessler & Cour-Palais (1978)"Collision Frequency of Artificial Satellites: The Creation of a Debris Belt" (JGR)
- Liou et al. (2021)"Active Debris Removal: Stabilization of LEO Environment" (NASA Space Debris Research)
- ESA Space Environment Report 2025 (Issue 9.1)Annual statistical analysis of all objects registered in Earth orbit
- UN COPUOS Technical ReportsScientific findings presented to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Organizations to Join
- SEDSStudents for the Exploration and Development of Space
- AIAA Student ChapterAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics student sections
- Model UN Space CommitteeRoleplay simulations of the UN COPUOS committee sessions
Behind the Research
Discover the development methodology, peer-reviewed academic database sources, and creators of the Orbital Watch platform.