A Soviet space probe, Kosmos 482, is expected to crash to Earth this month after being stuck in orbit since a failed 1972 launch. The exact landing site is unknown, but experts say it’s unlikely to hurt anyone or land in a populated area. This event may be a preview of what’s to come as the number of objects in low-Earth orbit has skyrocketed in recent years, with many satellites designed to burn up in the atmosphere not doing so.
Forecast for 6 months: In the next 6 months, we can expect to see increased awareness and discussion about the growing space debris problem, with governments and space agencies starting to take concrete steps to mitigate the issue.
Forecast for 1 year: By the end of the year, we can expect to see the first major efforts to clean up space debris, such as the deployment of debris removal satellites or the implementation of new regulations to prevent the proliferation of space junk.
Forecast for 5 years: In the next 5 years, we can expect to see significant progress in the development of technologies to remove space debris, with several companies and governments launching successful missions to clean up the Earth’s orbit.
Forecast for 10 years: By the end of the decade, we can expect to see a significant reduction in the amount of space debris in low-Earth orbit, with the implementation of robust regulations and technologies to prevent the proliferation of space junk and ensure the long-term sustainability of space exploration.
