Simulation of GEO environment mitigation measures

Simulation of the GEO environment with mitigation measures (top) and without (bottom).

This image shows a simulation of the future GEO environment in the case when no measures are taken; this is the "business-as-usual" scenario. In the top panel, with mitigation measures, 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 must be taken. In the long run, spacecraft and rocket stages have to be returned to Earth after completion of their mission.

It is crucial to that we start immediately to implement mitigation measures.