An artist's render of space debris orbiting Earth.ESA/IE

Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.

For years now, scientists have warned of the threat of Kessler Syndrome, a cascading destructive effect in Earth’s orbit where one collision can create thousands of pieces of space shrapnel that dramatically increase the likelihood that more collisions will take place.