Space is “vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big,” science fiction author Douglas Adams once wrote. But these days, amid an intensifying competition for access to low Earth orbit (LEO), where most satellites operate, the vastness of space has begun to appear woefully small. As of last month, there were more than 12,700 active satellites in orbit. Of these, around 93 percent circle the Earth in LEO, including military and commercial constellations, such as SpaceX’s Starlink. That number is only expected to increase in the coming years.

Satellites control many of society’s most critical functions , including communications, navigation, and imaging for both civilian and military purposes. In recent decades, the United States has developed a commercial and strategic advantage through its

See Full Page