Today, the risks to critical space infrastructure and human well-being are only growing. A single extreme space weather event could cause economic costs of billions of Euros to Europe, while there is a growing overload of objects in Earth orbit increasing the hazards for all spacecraft. And our Solar System routinely throws asteroids at us, of which some could impact with disastrous effects. At the same time, technology will be required to prevent and remove human-made space debris from orbit to achieve a zero-debris future.
ESA’s Space Safety Programme aims to develop the technologies, systems and know-how we need to protect our planet, human society and the satellites in space on which modern life depends.