The proposed system would fuse existing technologies like AI-enabled collision avoidance with new concepts such as repurposing space stations as repair or recycling platforms, while embedding design-for-end-of-life thinking from the outset.

NASA data shows a massive debris problem: more than 25,000 pieces larger than 4 inches and likely over 100 million smaller fragments, totaling over 10,000 tons in orbit.

The scale of the debris challenge is underscored by NASA figures: tens of thousands of sizable pieces and hundreds of millions of small fragments, adding up to thousands of tons in orbit.

Legal and political hurdles loom: the Outer Space Treaty treats launched objects as the property of the original owner, complicating cross-border cleanup and reforms, with dual-use tech and sovereignty concerns.

Experts say sustainability must align with economic incentives and funding, not just technical feasibility, for real-world adoption.

Buy-in hinges on clear financial and operational benefits for stakeholders, with economic incentives driving adoption alongside technology.

The core risk is a self-perpetuating debris cascade in low-Earth orbit, potentially jeopardizing usable space and global infrastructure.

A core idea is to coordinate AI-driven collision avoidance with end-of-life decisions—refurbishing, repurposing, or safely burning up satellites—and use platforms like space stations for repair and recycling.

The Kessler Syndrome represents a potential cascade of collisions in low-Earth orbit that could render space unusable and disrupt global communications and GDP.

Policy barriers to debris recycling and refurbishment are significant, centered on ownership rules under the Outer Space Treaty and worries about dual-use technologies and sovereignty.

There’s a need for cross-sector learning and an integrated approach to space sustainability, balancing safety, legality, and environmental considerations.

A University of Surrey study advocates a systemic, industry-wide approach to debris—reducing material use, repairing in orbit, and recycling—rather than relying on single technologies.