As we launch more to space than ever before, the threat from space debris gets ever greater. About 28,200 debris objects are currently tracked by Space Surveillance Networks, but millions more are estimated to reside in Earth orbit. Ranging from 1mm to more than 10cm in size, these debris objects can cause serious damage to operational satellites and other spacecraft if they collide. So how do we tackle the space debris problem?

Watch the replay from the opening of ESA’s 8th European Conference on Space Debris, where experts and policy makers meet to discuss the challenges and solutions to space debris, with one key message: it is time to act. The event is kicked off by Tim Flohrer, Head of ESA's Space Debris Office, followed by remarks from ESA’s new Director General Josef Aschbacher on this topic of global concern. Rolf Densing, Director of ESA’s ESOC Operations Centre - and home of the Agency’s Space Safety programme - then sets out his welcome address, followed by the world premiere of ESA’s new space debris movie, “Time to Act”, introduced by Stijn Lemmens. ESA's Head of Space Safety, Holger Krag, closes with his keynote address all about ESA’s response to the space debris challenge.