In the past decade and a half, we have witnessed an extraordinary surge in the use of space, cutting across both public and private sectors. This period has been marked by the significant deployment of new satellite constellations for purposes such as navigation, earth observation, and telecommunications. By the end of 2022, the number of operational satellites in orbit around earth had soared to approximately 6700, double that recorded in 2020.

In OECD countries, these space-based systems play a pivotal role. They support more than half of the critical infrastructures and services in sectors such as transportation, energy, food supply and law enforcement. These systems are also vital in addressing global challenges. For instance, space-based observations provide more than half of the key climate variables used in monitoring climate change, such as sea surface temperatures, ocean colour, land cover and ice caps. In developing countries, space technology is instrumental in monitoring the environment, forests and food production, and contributes to disaster prevention and emergency response. It also plays a vital role in providing communication services via satellite TV and radio.

The increase in space activity has environmental repercussions on earth and in space, including atmospheric pollution, an increase in space debris and brightening of the night sky.

The growing accumulation of debris in Earth’s orbits also poses a critical problem for the future of the space sector. There are currently about 25000 identifiable and tracked debris objects in orbit, but the total untracked population likely reaches in in the hundreds of millions. In a worst-case scenario, the density of this debris could reach levels where it triggers an irreversible chain reaction of collisions. This could render certain orbits of great socio-economic value unusable.

Addressing the issue of debris growth and removal will require more concerted public-private actions at national levels, considerable international co-operation, technological development, and innovative policy making supported by new economic instruments.

The advancement of space capabilities has been largely driven by decades of public investment, complemented increasingly by the private sector’s role in proposing innovative products and services. However, more needs to be done to secure the economic sustainability of essential public missions. This involves creating an appropriate policy and regulatory environment to foster innovative solutions and expand the use of satellite data to distribute the benefits more widely. Key priorities include maintaining the continuity and quality of government civilian missions, providing crucial data streams, levelling the playing field for private actors entering the market, and preserving the orbital environment for future generations.