If we were to actually have an independent space program we first must be able to track as small as possible debris in orbit. Which can be devastating at those extreme speeds.
Space debris greater than 10 centimeters can effectively be tracked using ground radar (US Space force is now working on tracking smaller baseball sized objects) , with collision avoidance alerts going out to spacecraft operators to adjust their assets’ orbits accordingly. But small debris is an unaddressed and growing threat. Alarmingly, while estimates suggest that more than 100 MILLION objects greater than a millimeter in size are whizzing around Earth, less than 1 PERCENT of this dangerous debris is currently being tracked.
Space debris greater than 10 centimeters can effectively be tracked using ground radar (US Space force is now working on tracking smaller baseball sized objects) , with collision avoidance alerts going out to spacecraft operators to adjust their assets’ orbits accordingly. But small debris is an unaddressed and growing threat. Alarmingly, while estimates suggest that more than 100 MILLION objects greater than a millimeter in size are whizzing around Earth, less than 1 PERCENT of this dangerous debris is currently being tracked.
Satellite Map | Explore Active Satellites Orbiting Earth
Satellite map of active satellites orbiting the Earth. View satellites along with information about the purpose, operator, orbital parameters, launch date & location of the satellite.
geoxc-apps.bd.esri.com