ESA 2025 report, using data through the end of 2024.
Orbital Debris Simulator
Orbit Under Pressure
A tutorial-style simulator for understanding how traffic in low Earth orbit builds up, why debris can start feeding on itself, and how different choices change the future.
Research question: How does congestion evolve across LEO altitude bands when launches, disposal, passivation, and cleanup improve at different rates?
Observed Starting Point
ESA reports about 40,000 tracked objects in orbit, including about 11,000 active payloads, with especially heavy crowding in LEO around 500 to 600 km.
Working spacecraft now make up a large share of LEO traffic.
Too small to all be tracked individually, but still dangerous.
Major breakup events still change the environment quickly.
Audience Briefing For General Public
Acronym And Terms Guide
How This Projection Works
Runaway Effect Explained
Why This Matters To Everyday Life
Orbit is stressed but still recoverable
Tracked debris
Active payloads
Orbit health
Collision events
Rotating Orbit View
Active payloads
Tracked debris
Derelict objects
Highlighted real objects
350-500 km
500-600 km
600-800 km
800-1000 km
1000-1400 km
Where The Traffic Is
Low Earth orbit is not one empty giant circle. Some heights are far more crowded than others, and crowded regions are where the danger builds fastest.