Megaconstellations: Crowded, Contentious and Competitive

The rise of megaconstellations has set a new precedent in orbital congestion, simply as a result of the increased number of satellites involved. According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, since the launch of Sputnik 1, 17,263 objects have been launched into space, 1 of which 11,330 2 individual satellites were orbiting the Earth at the end of June 2023, representing a 37.94% increase since January 2022. Although we have become accustomed to the novelties of space communication, until now it was characterised by a steady development. Now, however, its pace has changed: until 2020 only 10,308 were launched, but the last 3 years has seen a further 6,995 objects launched, which means 40.29% of all objects in this period. Most of these objects are communication satellites, which are deployed in increasingly connected systems in low Earth orbit (LEO)…