To date, no fatalities have been caused by falling space debris, though these close calls emphasize the increasing risks.
More Launches, More Risks
The problem of space debris has intensified with the rising number of launches. Between 2008 and 2017, an average of 82 orbital rockets were launched annually.
That number increased to 130 launches per year between 2018 and 2022. In 2024, the figure skyrocketed to around 250 launches, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.
As the volume of objects in space grows, so does the likelihood of collisions, which pose significant risks both on Earth and in orbit.
Physicist Thomas Berger warns that a major collision in space could trigger “an unstoppable chain reaction of further collisions, ultimately resulting in a completely filled-up space environment.”
Space debris has already caused damage in orbit. For instance, the space shuttle Endeavour once sustained damage to its radiator from debris. The entry hole was approximately 0.25 inches wide, with an exit hole twice that size.
A Growing Threat
From discarded satellites and astronaut tools to fragments smaller than a grape, space is becoming increasingly cluttered. The need for effective space debris management has never been more urgent. As incidents like the one in Kenya demonstrate, the problem is not just theoretical—it has real-world implications for safety and accountability.
