The story of space debris highlighting how the unintended consequences of intense spaceflight activity during the past 60 years has resulted in a growing population of debris objects that pose hazards to safe space navigation. In 2013, experts estimate that 29 000 objects larger than 10 cm are orbiting Earth.

The video also highlights the current state of debris mitigation measures and presents several concepts for removing defunct satellites from economically vital orbits now being studied by space agencies and industry across Europe.

Produced for the 6th European Conference on Space Debris, 22-25 April 2013.

More information via http://www.esa.int/debris