Space debris is already a problem for all air sectors. Days ago we were talking about a group of Chinese astronauts who were left stranded hundreds of kilometers above the planet after space debris collided with their capsule. Today we are talking about a direct alert issued by the U.S. to airlines because there are rocket remains and launch failures that are still in Earth orbit. They are already a problem, a real problem for space travel and a problem for commercial flights, yes, the one you take to go on vacation to Cancun.
It is time for the warning
The U.S. aviation authority has asked airlines to start planning alternative routes, carry more fuel than usual and prepare their crews to react to unexpected situations related to objects that… fall from space. Yes, just like in the movie Chicken Little, the sky could “fall”, and there have already been several incidents in which debris has exploded over two commercial planes and a private jet over the Caribbean while in flight. Luckily nothing happened, but you can imagine the fear the crew and passengers must have felt.
The problem comes from above
Or rather from below, because it is what we have been leaving in space. It is always expected that space debris will fall, but it does not always fall where it should. There are designated areas to manage this type of emergency, but some fragments leave the planned perimeter and cross common airspace (which is what commercial planes use).
Pilots and airlines now also have to pay attention to last minute alerts and must be prepared to take detours, delays or temporary airspace closures. So, one more level to be aware of in terms of safety, and much more unpredictable for any human being…
More rockets, more risk
With more rockets and more space launches, there is more debris up there. We no longer only dirty the seas, we also dirty space, and be careful because this debris is not only from public agencies, with private companies messing around with space travel there is more debris than ever.
- In 2015 there were just over a dozen supervised launches.
- In 2024 they already far exceeded one hundred.
- And for the next decade, hundreds per year are expected.
If we do not put an end to this space debris, there will come a time when our skies are only remnants of trips and expeditions, that is not very normal either, right?
Does anything change for airlines?
Of course, it is going to affect several areas. The first is economic, because they will have to carry more fuel and plan alternative routes in case of possible collision. In addition to possible cancellations, which will make flights more expensive and less punctual. Maybe that is better than not arriving, right?
Communication between pilots and air traffic control is also being reinforced to react quickly if falling debris is detected in a specific area.
A problem that does not understand borders
Although the alert comes from the United States, the problem is for the whole planet. Planes cross oceans and continents, and space debris does not understand countries or air limits, so international coordination between aviation and space authorities is needed, and a solution to this problem must be found.
The underlying message
This alert is, in reality, a wake up call. We are polluting space beyond our means, and of course it is going to have consequences down here. It is time to do something to stop contaminating what is not ours and to not put at risk the millions of people who get on planes every day.