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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 protect low Earth orbit.
Contact Your Representatives
The FCC's 5-Year Rule proved that regulatory action on debris is possible. But international reform needs political attention too — a five-minute message to your representative about ASAT test bans can help put it on the agenda.
Contact Your Representative →Share This Research
Orbital debris rarely makes headlines. Sharing this research with students, educators, or policymakers helps build the awareness that policy change depends on.
CIVIC ACTION
Contact Your Representative
Turn research into action. Write your US House representative about orbital debris policy.
1Choose Policy
2Find Rep
3Send Message
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.
Stronger international adherence to debris mitigation standards could reduce the projected number of tracked objects in low Earth orbit by roughly 13,400 by 2050, based on ESA's 2026 Space Environment Report.
Support the global ASAT test ban
Build on the United States' commitment against destructive anti-satellite testing.
Banning destructive ASAT tests could avoid roughly 5,000 new tracked debris fragments over the next few decades, based on the debris generated by China's 2007 and Russia's 2021 ASAT tests.
Support an international debris removal authority
Support U.S. leadership in responsibly removing the most dangerous debris from orbit.
A sustained active debris removal effort could lower the projected number of tracked objects by roughly 25,200 by 2050, based on Liou & Johnson's (2009) finding that removing 5 large objects per year stabilizes LEO debris density.
Support US leadership on de-orbit standards
Encourage responsible end-of-life practices for satellites around the world.
More consistent end-of-life disposal practices, closing the gap left by the FCC's 5-Year Rule only covering US-licensed operators, could reduce the projected number of tracked objects in low Earth orbit by roughly 16,800 by 2050.
I support stronger debris policy generally
Make orbital debris a continuing priority for U.S. space policy.
Debris mitigation policy can prevent tens of thousands of new tracked objects by 2050, based on ESA's 2026 Space Environment Report.
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 the LEO Environment" (NASA Space Debris Research)
- ESA Space Environment Report 2026 (Issue 10.1)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
Explore the methodology, data sources, and research behind Orbital Watch.