The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicIt is crucial to start right away with the implementation of the mitigation measures. We have simulated the future GEO environment in case no measures are taken. This is named the "business-as-usual" scenario. In the top panel a much cleaner space environment can be observed, if the number of explosions is reduced drastically and if no mission-related objects are ejected. However, to stop the ever increasing amount of debris more ambitious mitigation measures need to be taken. In the long run, spacecraft and rocket stages will have to be returned to Earth after completion of their mission.